IntroductionSexual violence against children and adolescents, due to their physical, emotional, cognitive and social, has become recognised in recent decades as a public health problem. However, its diagnosis is considered a difficult task, because not always the physical signs of their occurrence are evident. The forensic interview is a feature whereby the personal history and clinical and behavioural changes of the victim are valued in the entire peer review, assisting in the elucidation of cases in which no physical evidence found.ObjectiveThis study investigated the interview forensic as an additional tool to physical examination expert in identifying sexual violence against children and adolescents at Institute of Forensic Medicine, Recife.MethodExploratory, descriptive study conducted from November 2008 to March 2009. Were interviewed 22 forensics doctors, using a questionnaire to investigate clinical and legal aspects of the sexological exam of children and adolescents.ResultsThe analysis revealed that 100% of medical examiners conduct interviews with victims, based on clinical experience gained in working life, without using a specific protocol for management of children and adolescents.ConclusionThe absence of an interview protocol for medico-legal approach to child and adolescent victims of sexual violence is reflected in the reports of the sexological examination, which prioritise the physical evidence rather than behavioural change, recognised in the scientific literature as related consequences sexual violence. It is necessary to investigate and propose procedures and routines for the care of victims, their families and early intervention programs.

This study presents a critical reflection surrounding the invisibility of sexual violence against children and adolescences in the epidemiology and legal perspective. Discussing the magnitude and the impact of sexual violence in children and adolescences quality of life, identifying the occurrence of sexual violence among mothers under the age of 14, residents in Recife, in the year 2005 until June 2007, referring to the presumed violence defined by law and an analysis of 2.031 sexual reports have been done in 1.144 children and adolescences. The results showed that 27% of the interviewed mothers have a former history of sexual violence, they live in poor condition social areas, have low schooling, and half of these families belong to an enrolled program named Bolsa Familia. The maternal grandmothers are the main responsible ones to provide economically for the children, having more than 60% of adolescence mothers being responsible for their own babies. The Judicial system needs to adopt better knowledge in protocols and interview techniques in these cases and have capability and disciplined teams, avoiding in being re-victimized and impunity. After all, this is a theme that every time is becoming much more emergent, sexual violence still continues being subnotified and of difficult diagnosis, needing better investigations to improve this invisibility.