Incorporating Routine Screening For History Of Childhood Sexual Abuse Into Well‐Woman And Maternity Care

Abstract

Despite a rapid expansion in the understanding of the incidence and effects of childhood sexual abuse in the mental health disciplines, health care disciplines have only begun to look at the effect of an abuse history on Women's Health. Little is known from research about its influence on a woman's gynecology care or childbearing experience. The literature across disciplines advocates for routine screening for history of childhood sexual abuse. Asking about childhood sexual abuse will benefit women who have been abused and will help build a database from which to gain clinical knowledge about their care. This review presents clinical reasons to screen, discusses barriers and benefits, and emphasizes manageable ways to incorporate asking about childhood sexual abuse into practice.