title: [Epidemiological, clinical and judicial aspects of sexual assault in Bamako (Mali)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual assault rates are underestimated in Mali. This study was designed to assess the epidemiological, clinical and judicial aspects of sexual assault.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted from 1st July 2007 to 30 April 2010 in the health care centre of the 4th Commune of Bamako. The study included 37 sexual assault victims selected from the medical records and sexual assault certificates from a total of 1,810 patients attending the gynaecology clinic during the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of sexual assault was therefore 2%. 78.4% of the victims took legal action against the alleged perpetrator. Victims admitted at the request of Police officers accounted for 43.25%; 59.5% of victims attended the clinic within 24 hours following the assault. The age ranged from 2 to 40 years with a mean of 21 years; 37.9% were single and 48.6% were students. The assault was perpetrated by one person in 89.2%, a relative was involved in 5.4%; rape consisted of genito-genital intercourse in 64.9%; 32.4% of the victims had perineal and/or vulval injuries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual assault is relatively frequent in Mali, particularly among students and housewives. It represents a real tragedy, which must be prevented by increasing the awareness of the population, judicial assistance to victims and prosecution of perpetrators.
authors.forename: Japhet Pobanou
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Théra
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soumah
authors.forename: Ténin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.forename: Moustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Touré
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traoré
authors.forename: Mamadou Lamine
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Sow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult