Time Lapsed between Sexual Aggression and Arrival at the Brazilian Health Service

Background: We aimed to describe the social, demographic and medical characteristics of victims of sexual violence and their association with the lapsed time between the aggression and the search for medical attention, and to identify the possible reasons for delay in access to hospital. Methods: we reviewed the records of 439 female cases of sexual violence, treated through the medical services in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, during an eight-year period, from 2000 to 2007. Results: of the 439 patients, 374 arrived at the hospital within 72 hours after the aggression. The average age was 24.5 years; 45.1% completed or were finishing high school. The most common form of sexual aggression was vaginal penetration in 43.9% of the cases, followed by multiple forms of penetration such as vaginal plus anal, or vaginal plus oral in 31.4% of the patients. Patients who did not suffer extra-genital injury and those who did not notify the authorities were significantly more likely to present to care after 72 hours: OR = 2.58 (95%CI: 1.04; 6.38) and OR = 2.74 (95%CI: 1.58; 4.78) respectively. Patients who had prior knowledge of their aggressor were significantly less likely to present after 72 hours (OR = 0.51; 95%CI: 0.28; 0.96). Conclusions: patients who suffered from extra-genital trauma and those who notified the authorities were more likely to seek care within 72 hours whereas patients who knew their aggressor were more likely to suffer the consequences of seeking care later than 72 hours. Public policies and efforts to educate women about the seriousness of this crime and encourage them to notify the authorities and seek care immediately following the aggression, may reduce the complications involving such crime.