Indicadores cognitivos e emocionais de crianças vítimas de violência sexual

Abstract

Sexual violence against children is considered a public health problem, which impacts and harms children's development in different ways. The most common are social, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and physical damage, which varies from one victim to another. An increase in interest and concern for actions aimed at guaranteeing the rights of children and adolescents has been observed. This research is an empirical, quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study, which aims to understand the cognitive and emotional indicators of children victims of sexual violence, who are being assisted in the Care Program for Victims of Sexual Violence (PAVVS ), from the Júlio Muller University Hospital in Cuiabá – MT, using the Human Figure Drawing (DFH-IV) and Pfister Colored Pyramid Test (TPC) instruments, sociodemographic questionnaire and semi-structured interview on the responsible family member's perception of violence suffered by the child. The partial sample was comprised of 12 children, aged between seven to eleven years (M=8,9 and SD=1,37) and of both sexes (F= 12 and M= 04), all from public schools. The results showed that the cognitive development indicators evaluated by both instruments were considered below average when compared with the normative sample of the tests. The evaluated children presented 75% of the DFH-IV results below the average, and in the TPC there was a prevalence of the formal aspect of Rugs (89.56%) and descending placement mode (45.82%). With regard to the results of the emotional indicators, they showed adaptability, socialization, a propensity for emotional stability, as well as emotional immaturity, irritability, neediness, inhibition and insecurity. The results do not indicate emotional damage related to sexual violence, considering emotional immaturity, common in children.