Trends in child sexual abuse research in Latin America and the Caribbean

Introduction: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is an endemic threat to health. Although research on the subject has advanced considerably, there are few studies that have considered the perspectives of the region. Objective: This study sought to analyze the research trends of CSA in Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing on its productivity as well as the evolution of the conceptual structure. Method: For this study, a longitudinal bibliometric mapping of co-words in articles indexed in the Web of Science was conducted utilizing SciMAT. Results: Findings revealed an increase in the volume and impact of the articles published on this topic. The core corresponds to 35 articles, mostly quantitative, and published as part of international collaborations. The conceptual structure of the field addresses 19 topics with Maltreatment and Child Sexual Abuse; Risk Factors; and Family and Experiences considered as key themes; whereas Street Children and Emotional Abuse could be considered an emerging topic. Conclusions: Findings suggest that although research focusing on CSA has been continuous and steady, a process of diversification on the topics of study within this field is emerging. Lastly, the scientific community could use the research findings to identify thematic areas of interest.