title: Prevalence and pattern of rape among girls and women attending Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, southeast Nigeria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and pattern of rape in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective descriptive study was conducted among female survivors of rape who presented at the emergency gynecologic and/or forensic unit of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital between February 2012 and July 2013. Data were collected via a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 1374 gynecologic emergencies, there were 121 (8.8%) rape cases. The mean age of the rape survivors was 13.1±8.1 years. Ninety (74.4%) survivors were younger than 18 years. At least 72 hours had passed since the rape for 74 (61.2%) cases. The perpetrator was known to 74 (82.2%) patients younger than 18 years and 18 (58.1%) aged at least 18 years (P=0.013). The location of the rape was the bush or an uncompleted building for 36 (29.8%) and the perpetrator's residence for another 36 (29.8%). Four (3.3%) individuals became pregnant after the rape.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A considerable proportion of patients with gynecologic emergencies had been raped. Individuals should be encouraged to report to the hospital quickly to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Robsam S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Ohayi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria. Electronic address: ezugwueuzebus@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Euzebus C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ezugwu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chibuike O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Chigbu
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Susan U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Arinze-Onyia
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Enugu State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chukwuemeka A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Iyoke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases; D017741:Survivors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Enugu; Nigeria; Rape; Sexual abuse; Sexual assault; Sexual violence