Unmet health care needs among children evaluated for sexual assault.
OBJECTIVE
To determine in a population of children who underwent a medical examination after alleged sexual assault the proportion who had unmet medical or psychiatric needs.


METHODS
Retrospective medical record review.


METHODS
A referral center for alleged child victims of sexual assault in Houston, Tex, from December 1, 2003, through April 30, 2004.


METHODS
Four hundred seventy-three children (81% girls). Nine children refused all or part of the medical evaluation.


METHODS
Diagnoses that warranted intervention at the time of the medical evaluation.


RESULTS
A medical or psychological diagnosis that required intervention as judged by the examiner was made in 123 children (26%) (95% confidence interval, 22%-30%). In 39 children (8% of the total study population) (95% confidence interval, 6%-11%), the diagnosis had the potential to result in significant patient morbidity if not immediately addressed. In contrast, 44 children (9%) (95% confidence interval, 7%-12%) had probable or definite physical or laboratory evidence that supported the allegation of sexual assault.


CONCLUSIONS
Among children undergoing a medical evaluation after an alleged sexual assault, important unmet health care needs are at least as common as forensic findings.
Girardet
Rebecca
R
University of Texas at Houston School of Medicine, 6431 Fannin Street, MSB 3.156B, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Rebecca.g.girardet@uth.tmc.edu
Giacobbe
Lauren
L
Bolton
Kelly
K
Lahoti
Sheela
S
McNeese
Margaret
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000293:injuries; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000293:injuries; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas