Epidemiological and Forensic Aspects of Physical Abuse of Minors

Abstract

Child abuse is a phenomenon whose magnitude remains unknown in Africa. It includes all forms of physical and/or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, or commercial exploitation.This is a prospective descriptive study, with systematic case-by-case recruitment of victims of physical abuse of minors received in the forensic medicine department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital over a twelve (12) month period, from July 20, 2016 to July 19, 2017.The study included 218 cases of child abuse out of 1110 patients who were seen for any reason, a proportion of 20%. Victims aged between 11 and 15 years old were the most represented with 46.7% and more than half were out of school with 59.6%, girls were the most represented in our study with 73.3% with a sex ratio M/F = 0.36. The relationship between the victim and the aggressor was familial in (44%). The injuries were found all over the body. 77.60% of the victims had a total work disability of less than or equal to 20 days. Physical abuse is common in Conakry. Young subjects are the most affected, especially student summary. Minors constitute a fragile population, dependent and vulnerable to the assaults to which they are subjected, both inside and outside the family sphere.