Skip to main content
Hawaiʻi Pacific Health Logo

Understanding Pediatric Sexual Abuse Medical Examinations

The Sex Abuse Treatment Center provides medical examinations for children and adolescents up to age 18 to evaluate sexual trauma and provide medical treatment, if more than 120 hours has passed since the abuse. If you’re aware of a child or adolescent who has been assaulted and it’s within 120 hours of the assault, please refer to the SATC Medical Forensic Examination.

What will happen at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children for the Pediatric Sexual Abuse Medical Examination?

  1. 1

    This exam is by appointment only. Call the SATC office to schedule an appointment at 808-535-7600 Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

  2. 2

    Exams are conducted at the Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children at 1319 Punahou St., Honolulu, HI 96813. Please check in with admissions, and you will be met by a crisis worker.

  3. 3

    The SATC Crisis worker will take you to the examination room, explain the consent forms and obtain the minor or their parent/legal guardian's consent to the examination. Crisis counseling is available during the examination.

  4. 4

    An SATC medical doctor who specializes in child abuse examinations will arrive at the examination room.

    The doctor will obtain a medical history and depending on the minors age will ask questions about the assault/abuse. A head-to-toe examination will be conducted which may include looking at the genital area.  The questions are meant to help guide the doctor in their examination and document the details of the assault/abuse.   

    During the physical exam, the doctor will check for external physical injuries and examine the young person's genital area for trauma. The doctor may take photos for medical evaluation and to document injuries. In addition there will be an evaluation for sexually transmitted infections and, if necessary, treatment will be provided.

    Once the examination is completed, the doctor will discuss the results of the exam and provide recommendations for follow-up medical care. Testing and treatment for HIV is not done as a standard part of the pediatric sexual abuse examination. If the young person is considered high risk for infection, the doctor will discuss available options and testing.

    Counseling is an important follow-up service after the sexual abuse exam.

  5. 5

    Information shared with the SATC is confidential unless disclosure is required by law.  The SATC staff are mandated reporters and required to report cases of harm to children when the assault/abuse has occurred within the family and/or household where the child is residing.

    Suspected cases of child sexual abuse by a family and/or household member should first be reported to the Department of Human Services-Child Welfare Services (DHS-CWS) at 808-832-5300. Suspected cases of child trafficking or sexual exploitation of a minor should be reported to Department of Human Services-Child Welfare Services (DHS-CWS) at 808-832-1999

  6. 6

    There is no cost for the examination.