Abstract

GRAU CANO, Jaume et al. Description of sexual assaults treated in the emergency department of a referral hospital. Gac Sanit [online]. 2011, vol.25, n.2, pp.166-169. ISSN 0213-9111.

Objective: To describe the factors related to adult sexual assaults attended in a referral hospital in the city of Barcelona (Spain). Methods: We carried out an individual-based cross-sectional study of sexual assaults treated in the emergency department between 2005 and 2008. Results: A total of 712 patients (95.5% female) were treated. The median age of assaulted women was 25 years. Complaints were made in 87.5% of cases and assaults were made by a single attacker in 84.5%. When the perpetrator was known, the profile of the victim (p<0.05) was as follows: the victim was assaulted at home (81.5%), the perpetrator acted alone (94.2%), the mechanism of aggression was penetration (89.3%) and the attack took place during the week (63.3%). Conclusions: Analysis of sexual assaults allows for different risk groups to be established, which facilitates the development of specific protocols and guidelines for effective aid and full treatment.

Keywords : Sexual assault; Emergency department; Gender-based violence.

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