Abstract

Sexual violence is ubiquitous, a global problem and renders a huge negative impact to mind and health of the population. Our study aims to analyse the genital and bodily injury pattern along with laboratory findings in sexual assault cases. A total of 204 cases of sexual assault were studied in a two years period among victims ranging from 3 to 70 years and mean age 17.8 years which came to our hospital, in which detailed medico-legal examination findings, history from victim, police record, and laboratory findings were analysed. Majority of victims belonged to 16–17 years age group (27.45%) and 14–15 years (22.5%), also with maximum genital injury. Mostly occurred in evening between 4–6 pm in 40.2% cases and inside the house of victim and in only 22.5% occurred outdoor. In 88.2% cases assailant was known to victim producing genital injury in 14.4% cases. In 11.7% assailant was a stranger in which highest (25%) cases of genital injury was seen and all occurred in outdoor settings. In 96% cases which had single assailant showed 13.2% genital and 20.41% bodily injury but in gang rape (3.93%) 75% cases showed genital and bodily injury. 72.5% females had no prior sexual intercourse among them 78.4% had genital injuries and only 27.4% had experienced prior sexual intercourse among them only 8.9% had recent injury. Kidnapping (23.53%) and verbal threats to kill (20.59%) were used as coercion in most cases. Only 32.5% victims were examined within 72 hours and among them 42.4% evidenced recent genital injury and 30.3% bodily injury. Sites of genital injury evidenced were labia majora (8 cases), labia minora (10 cases), vagina (2 cases), posterior commisure, fourchette, fossa navicularis (10 cases), hymen-redness (16 cases), recent tear (10 cases). Only 11.3% cases revealed spermatozoa in vaginal smear and 0.1% cases were positive for urine pregnancy test/ultrasonography.

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