Pattern of Injuries in Cases of Sexual Assault and Role of Colposcopy in Detection of Hidden Injuries

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo , Egypt.

2 Forensic Medicine & clinical toxicology Department Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams University

3 Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Violence against women and children means any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to the victims.
Aim of the Work: The present study aimed to study the pattern of sexual assaults of female and male children and to evaluate the role of colposcopy in their examination.
Patients and Methods: 150 cases were examined in the newly established unit: the violence against woman and child.
Results The age of the cases ranged from 1– 40 years old, 96 were females while 54 were males. Incest was detected in 44 cases, physical injuries in 41 cases & threat in 72 cases. Regarding the type of sexual assault, penile anal penetration was common in age group (A) while penile vaginal penetration was common in age group (B). Ano-genital injuries were detected in 22 cases by naked eye examination and in 88 by colposcopic examination. Addition of toluidine blue dye couldn’t detect any extra-injuries. Vaginal and rectal swabs were done only in 41 cases, 17 of them were positive for seminal stain. For these 17 confirmed cases, 9 of them showed positive results during colposcopic examination.. In 63 cases, who preserved their clothes without washing, 34 of them were positive for seminal stain detection.
Conclusion: There are significant differences in the characteristics of sexual assault cases between both sexes and between adults and minors. The colposcope seems to be an acceptable non-invasive tool for the examination of children and adults when sexual abuse is suspected.

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