The sexual abuse of children is a public health issue, due to the high epidemic incidence and to the serious damages for the victims’ development. The dynamic of this kind of violence is complex, involving psychological, social and legal aspects. This work maps the risk factors for intrafamiliar sexual abuse, identified in the juridical processes of the public prosecution service of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil, during the period between 1992 and 1998. The analysis of 71 files shows the victims’ profile and the characterization of the perpetrators, of the families and of sexual violence event. The results point that the unemployment, reconstituted families, alcohol and drug abuse, economical difficulties and other kinds of violence constituted the main risk factors associated to the sexual abuse. Such results can subsidize preventive and therapeutic actions against children and adolescents sexual violence.
sexual abuse; family dynamics; risk factors