1. Care of women and girls after sexual assault in Geneva: A descriptive study between 2005 and 2014
- Author
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Dominique Ricard-Gauthier, Jasmine Abdulcadir, Michal Yaron, and Fracasso Tony
- Subjects
Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Aggression ,Sexual Behavior ,Public health ,Sex Offenses ,Psychological intervention ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Amnesia ,Emergency department ,Reproductive Medicine ,Sexual abuse ,Pregnancy ,Risk Factors ,Family medicine ,Epidemiology ,medicine ,Humans ,Female ,Sex organ ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Referral and Consultation ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
Background and purpose We aimed to examine epidemiological data and identify risk factors for sexual assault. This study included women seeking care at the Geneva University Hospitals emergency obstetrics and gynaecological unit. Method Retrospective, sociodemographic, and clinical data were collected from the medical reports. Results We reviewed 836 medical charts and registered 92.8 women and girls per year who consulted the emergency department after sexual assault. The average age was 26 (±12) years, with a median of 23 years. Body lesions were reported in 525 patients (63%) and genital traumatic lesions were reported in 230 (28%) patients. Sexual assault by a stranger was reported in 436 cases (52%). Thirty percent of patients knew their aggressor. Aggressions were predominantly committed on the weekend, accounting for 367 cases (46%), with nearly two-thirds (65%, n = 474) occurring between 10 pm and 6 am. In total, 399 (48%) patients who were sexually assaulted reported having consumed alcohol and 102 (12%) reported having taken drugs prior to the aggression; 80 (10%) patients had consumed both and 286 (34%) had amnesia. Half of the sample sought and received medical care within 24 h from the time the aggression took place. Conclusion Sexual assault risk factors in our study population in Geneva included use of drugs and alcohol, with amnesia. Future prevention and education interventions should target these areas.
- Published
- 2021