Analysis of cases of sexual assault presenting at a medical center in Taipei.
OBJECTIVE
Sexual assault is a form of interpersonal violence with significant consequential health problems. The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of the victims, assaults, and associated physical and psychologic trauma of sexual assault cases in Taipei.


METHODS
Data were retrospectively collected from the medical records of sexual assault victims who visited the emergency department of a medical center in Taipei from 1991 to 2003. The characteristics of the victims, assaults, and factors associated with general body and genital trauma were analyzed.


RESULTS
There were 114 sexual assault victims, including 107 females and seven males, aged from 3 to 49 years (mean, 17.9 years). Overall, 72.3% of victims had evidence of physical trauma. Genital/anal injuries (53.3%) occurred more often than general body trauma (41.0%). The presence of general body injuries was positively associated with physical examination within 72 hours, and negatively associated with a victim age younger than 18 years. Genital/anal lesions were significantly more common in victims without prior sexual intercourse.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of physical examination in sexual assault victims were related to early examination, age, and sexual experience.
Hwa
Hsiao-Lin
HL
Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chen
Shyr-Chyr
SC
Wu
Mu-Zon
MZ
Shun
Chia-Tung
CT
Liu
Shi-Kai
SK
Lee
James Chun-I
JC
Chen
Yao-Chang
YC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000652:urine; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000293:injuries; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000293:injuries; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000431:Ethanol