Frequent factors for women and children subjected to sexual assaults presenting at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi.

OBJECTIVES To determine the frequent factors in women and children subjected to sexual assaults seeking medical care at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi. METHODS A cross sectional study was conducted in the Medico legal Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, Karachi, Pakistan. Sexual assault victims seeking medical care and medico legal reports from Jan 2007-June 2010 were included in the study. The sampling technique was non-probability purposive. All women were informed regarding the confidentiality of their records and written informed consent was taken. In case of female children the consent was taken from both parents/guardians. The data was analyzed on statistical package for social sciences version 15. RESULTS There were 180 women and children examined and interviewed after the Sexual assault. The mean age (years) was 19.24 +/- 7.33. Mostly reported victims were raped and abused both 162 (90%) and only rape was reported in 18 (10%).The physical, local, Abdominal and Pelvic examination showed fresh act of violence in sexual assault victims in 83 (46.1%) cases. The sexual assault was confirmed in 75 (41.7%) cases. CONCLUSION The fresh sexual assault acts confirmed in 41%. The frequent factors in women and children subjected to sexual assaults were adult women (18-40 Years), two third victims brought by police after 6-24 hours of rape, 90% reported both sexual assault and physical violence, in two third cases no weapon used and no external marks of body injuries observed.