Adolescent sexual assault: Experiences at sexual assault clinic

Kim, Gwang Jun

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Sexual assault is both a social problem and a public health issue. Adolescent females are the most vulnerable age group of sexual assault victim. We aimed to compare the characteristics of this age group with those of other age groups.
METHODS
136 victims of sexual assault referred to specialized female sexual assault center in Incheon metropolitan city. There were 32 adolescent patients aged 13 to 18 years, and retrospective chart review was done. All the treatments and evidence collections were carried out by female doctors who were trained to manage sexual assault patients. Analysis was done to determine the frequency, location and severity of genital and non genital trauma and the site and time of the assault, the number of assailant, the nature of the physical contacts, use of weapons were recorded.
RESULTS
Summer (July and August) was relatively vulnerable season for adolescent sexual assault and the vulnerable time was between 22 to 02 (59.4%). Hotel was the most frequently used place (9 cases), and the victim's house was the next. Vaginal intercourse was involved in 28 cases (87.5%). Most general body trauma was trivial. Drinking was combined in 17 cases (53.1%) and internet chatting was used before the assault in 7 cases (21.8%). Multiple assailants attacked victims in 11 cases (34.4%)
CONCLUSION
Alcohol drinking and internet chatting were closely related with the adolescent sexual assaults and it should be educated in sexual assault preventing program.