Gonorrhoea on rise in abused children

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

The number of New Zealand children contracting gonorrhoea after sexual abuse is increasing at an alarming rate, according to child health specialists.

The Starship children's hospital in Auckland has diagnosed 10 children with the sexually transmitted disease since 1997, compared with only two in the five years before that.

Gonorrhoea, which can cause a discharge or pain when urinating, is readily cured with antibiotics but if left untreated it can affect fertility in men and leave women sterile.

The new figures from Starship hospital are the latest in a shocking series of revelations in recent weeks about the affect of abuse on children.

Statistics New Zealand figures show in the year to June 1999, about 6495 children were reported as suffering from abuse.

Health experts estimate up to another 27,000 children may be exposed to abuse but their suffering has gone unreported.

The clinical director of Starship's child abuse unit, Dr Patrick Kelly, said the 10 cases of gonorrhoea involved children aged between 3 and 7 at the time of diagnosis.

"For us, going from where we saw one case of gonorrhoea in a young child every second year [we're now] seeing three a year, which although in terms of absolute numbers might not sound all that dramatic, it's actually an extraordinarily big increase," said Dr Kelly. "I think it's fair enough to describe it as an epidemic."

However, Dr Kelly did not believe these figures indicated an increase in the rate of child abuse, but rather reflected the sharply rising adult rate of gonorrhoea.

He said it was arguably fortunate for the 10 children that they had developed the disease, as it appeared their diagnosis was the first time anyone had suspected sexual abuse.

Dr Kelly said many social workers and police officers who investigated child abuse cases did not understand that if children had gonorrhoea they must have been sexually abused. It could not be caught off toilet seats or by sharing towels.

Dr Kelly hopes those misunderstandings will end from next year, with the setting up of a "Cares" centre aimed at bringing together agencies involved, including his own unit.

Since families will go to only one place instead of many for services, it is hoped the project will increase the chances serious abuse - such as the case of James Whakaruru, the 4-year-old beaten to death by his mother's partner - will be stopped in time.

The Government agencies involved in the Cares project have agreed to it in principle but the funding formula has not been finalised.

The Starship Foundation charity group, supported by Sky City, is organising a fund-raising campaign and wants to chip in with more than $100,000.

The hospital's unit will be joined at the centre by child abuse teams from the police and the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, plus the evidential videotaping unit. A similar facility is planned for South Auckland.