Relationship of genital injuries and age in adolescent and young adult rape survivors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations between age and genital injuries in adolescent and young adult women examined following rape.


METHODS
A retrospective review of 234 medical records from an emergency department sexual assault program.


METHODS
Women aged 14 to 29 years. Fifty percent of the sample was African American, 48% was White, and 2% was either Asian or an "other" race.


METHODS
Genital injury was described by injury prevalence, frequency, and anatomical locations of injuries.


RESULTS
Overall genital injury prevalence was 62.8%. Younger age was not significantly associated with the presence or absence of genital injury. However, younger age was significantly associated with an increased number of genital injuries overall and to the thighs, labia minora, periurethral area, fossa navicularis, and vagina.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the need for further research to determine if the current care provided to rape survivors is age appropriate.
Department of Patient Services, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH 45229, USA. rachel.baker@cchmc.org
Rachel B
RB
Baker
Marilyn S
MS
Sommers
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D003127:Colposcopy; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D053604:Forensic Nursing / Q000379:methods; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D016015:Logistic Models; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy