By Katherine Sellgren BBC News education and family reporter

“Alarming gaps” in knowledge about abuse within families mean “substantial numbers” of children are not adequately protected, England’s deputy children’s commissioner Sue Berelowitz has said. Her warning comes as a report based on an analysis of 57,226 research studies into child sexual abuse is published. The Office of the Children’s Commissioner has launched an inquiry into how best to tackle the problem. The two-year inquiry will look at sexual abuse within the family.

The report – It’s a lonely journey – is based on an analysis of 57,226 research studies into child sexual abuse. The study, carried out for the Office of the Children’s Commissioner by researchers at Middlesex University, found “glaring omissions” in what was known about abuse in family environments. This includes an “almost complete lack” of research directly looking into children and young people’s experiences of what would help to prevent the abuse or to support those who have been abused. The report highlights a particular lack of knowledge about the experiences of disabled children and those from minority ethnic groups. It also finds that most services to support people who have experienced child sexual abuse within a family context are targeted at adult survivors rather than at children. Moreover, little is known about the prevalence of long-term psychological and physical harm caused by sexual abuse in family environments and almost nothing about the economic cost this places on society.

“We know that at any one time, around 43,000 children have child protection plans, only around 5% of whom are on a plan for sexual abuse. These figures do not add up.”

Report author, Dr Miranda Horvath, said: “Child victim-survivors’ voices and first-hand experiences were absent from the vast majority of the research we reviewed for this rapid evidence assessment. “It is imperative that future research and the work of the inquiry brings these to the fore using ethical but innovative methods, with the well-being of the child at the centre.

“At the same time, we need to know more about programmes that are focused on preventing family-based child sexual abuse before it occurs, in order to take a preventative rather than reactive approach.”

Announcing an inquiry into the problem, Maggie Atkinson, the Children’s Commissioner for England, said: “Society is rightly horrified by child sexual abuse. “Most of our children are raised in secure, loving homes but I am sure very many of us will be disturbed by how much abuse within the family environment goes unreported and how little is done to support the children who suffer. As adults we are morally and socially obliged to protect children from harm. As children’s commissioner, I also have a legal responsibility to promote their right to protection.”

Ms Atkinson’s office has vowed that “the experiences and voices of children and young people will be at the heart of this inquiry, and driving all that we do”.