Researchers have demonstrated that 15% to 30% of all women were sexually abused as children. Although information on the emotional; behavioral cognitive, and medical sequelae of this abuse has been available to mental health professionals, problems that abuse survivors experience during routine primary care are less well known. This article discusses the primary care needs of adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and suggests ways that psychiatric nurses can be helpful in making sure that survivors receive adequate and sensitive primary health care services.
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