Community-Wide Intervention Effective in Reducing CSA

Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a pervasive issue affecting millions of children worldwide, with significant long-term consequences for survivors. In the United States, at least 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys experience CSA, showing a sobering statistic. Despite various preventive strategies, the incidence rates of CSA have remained stagnant in the United States during the past 15 to 20 years. This stagnation underscores the urgent need for innovative and effective primary prevention measures. In 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reported insufficient evidence supporting the effectiveness of existing child abuse prevention strategies in reducing population-level incidence rates, highlighting the need for further study. Objective: To assess whether a coordinated community-wide preventative intervention could influence the incidence rates of CSA. Design: Population cohort study comparing intervention counties with matched control counties in Pennsylvania from 2018 th more...