Role of Pharmacists and Other Healthcare Professionals in Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a difficult and challenging issue rooted in the interaction of societal, familial, cultural, and individual variables. It is a somber truth that is widely accepted in India and has a negative impact on the health, as well as the natural maturation and development of children. It is now a significant issue for public health around the world. Essentially, CSA is a form of coercion used on children who are unable to understand or express their consent, resulting in significant bodily or mental harm. Pharmacists, teachers at all educational levels, college professors, and other healthcare experts ought to be able to identify child maltreatment and neglect. The present chapter describes the role of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in dealing with various issues of CSA such as how to recognize, report, and prevent CSA, followed by socio-economic challenges, various organizations involved in action against CSA, and the relevant medico-legal issues. According to the literature evaluation, viable ecological models must be created for CSA prevention and treatment. In order to improve primary prevention methods, there is also, unquestionably, a tremendous additional investigation into those who harm children required, with a focus on understanding pedophilia in India.