[Sexual assault against women-- injury pattern and victim-perpetrator relationship].
BACKGROUND
Women who have been exposed to sexual assault have the opportunity to consult specialised health service. The Centre for victims of sexual assault at St. Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway, offers emergency medical treatment, psychosocial follow-up and collects evidence in case the victim wants to file a complaint. The aim of this study was to examine whether injury pattern and assault characteristics differed according to the victim's relationship to the perpetrator.


METHODS
Information about the assaults was collected retrospectively from medical journals of 162 female clients who presented at the centre over the period 1 June 2000 through 31 May 2003. Depending on their relationship with the perpetrator, the victims were categorised into four groups: stranger, accidental acquaintance, acquaintance, or partner. Assault characteristics and injury patterns were compared among these groups.


RESULTS
69 % (111/162) of the victims knew their offender. Accidental acquaintances were reported as perpetrator in 32 (20 %) of the assaults, acquaintances in 68 (42 %), partners in 11 (7 %) and unknown offenders in 29 (18 %). Type and severity of the sexual assaults did not differ significantly according to victim-perpetrator relationship. The most life-threatening violence and use of a weapon were reported used by known offenders only.


CONCLUSIONS
In emergency medical response to victims of sexual assaults, it should be made sure that victims, independently of their relationship with perpetrator, are met and treated equally.
Haugen
Kaja
K
Det medisinske fakultet, Medisinsk-teknisk forskningssenter, Postboks 169 7489 Trondheim. kaja_haugengrong@hotmail.com
Slungård
Anne
A
Schei
Berit
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011902:Rape / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014754:Violence