When SV involves a victim less than 18 years old, it is child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse (CSA) refers to the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he/she:
- does not fully comprehend
- does not consent to or is unable to give informed consent to, or
- is not developmentally prepared for and cannot give consent to
Experiencing child sexual abuse is an adverse childhood experience (ACE) that can affect how a person thinks, acts, and feels over a lifetime, resulting in short- and long-term physical and mental/emotional health consequences.
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