Rape victims--assaults, injuries and treatment at a medical rape trauma service at Oslo Emergency Hospital.
OBJECTIVE
To describe assaults, injuries, and treatment in the 168 patients who attended the medical rape trauma service in 1987. To give an impression of the medico-legal documentation that is required.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
A rape trauma service (RTS) established at the Emergency Hospital in Oslo. The service is free, open around the clock, and independent of police notification. RTS has standardized the medico-legal report used for rape victims.


METHODS
All patients attending RTS from 1 January to 31 December.


RESULTS
Eighty-two (49%) patients reported the incident to the police. Two-thirds of the patients were assaulted by strangers, one-fifth by two or more assailants, and 16 were subjected to attempted rape. Weapons were used in 50 of the assaults. Eighty-one patients had physical injuries requiring documentation but no special treatment. Fourteen patients were infected with sexually transmitted diseases, three patients became pregnant. Seventy-eight patients returned for a medical follow-up. As many as 128 patients (76%) needed care from all parts of the emergency medical and psycho-social services.


CONCLUSIONS
RTS shows that primary health service can be responsible for the treatment of rape victims and for the medico-legal documentation of rape trauma.
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Department of General Medicine, Emergency Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004282:Documentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011247:Pregnancy; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014754:Violence; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology