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More harm than help?

¹ Iowa City, Iowa

It is certainly appropriate for the Academy to undertake programs designed to reduce the incidence of child sexual abuse. As an organization committed to the principles of preventive care, the Academy appears well situated to produce accurate and helpful materials for children as well as parents and other concerned citizens. A pamphlet recently produced by the Academy, "Child Sexual Abuse," provides appropriate and timely information to assist pediatricians and others concerned with the welfare of children in preventing this serious disorder affecting children.

I understand, based on information in the June 1985 AAP News, that the AAP Task Force on the Promotion of pediatrics has produced the half-minute public service announcement "Rules for Cubs," which is directed at children and is to be distributed to television stations across the country. I am concerned that this project, if done in isolation, may seriously mislead caregivers into believing that child sexual abuse can be prevented by merely teaching children not to take candy from, talk to, or go with strangers. Given the constraints of the format and brief time allowed, and based on a review of the printed material on which it is based (the "spot" has not aired locally), I would suspect that the information conveyed is limited to this relatively rare and diminishing cause of child sexual abuse — assault from a stranger.