Abstract
BackgroundSexual assault is a worldwide problem that has not yet been sufficiently acknowledged as confirmed by the literature. Italian law n.96, 1996, foreseeing norms regarding rape and sexual abuse, finally gave significant relevance to sex crimes. In 2004, the European Commission for Justice Internal Affairs and Social Politics promoted the Daphne II program to support victims of rape and abuse, and the Violence and Operative Healthcare Networks (Ve.R.S.O.) project started at the Policlinico “P. Giaccone” University Hospital of Palermo in 2006. Aim: data analysis emerging from 10 years experience of Daphne protocol utilization for the management of sexual assault victims.MethodsFrom October 2006 since December 2016 a total of 90 victims of sexual assault were retrospectively investigated. Patients are divided into groups in relation to: gender, age, place of SA, number and type of assailant, nature of sexual assault, presence/absence of physical or genital injuries.ResultsAmong victims 88 were females (97%) and 2 males (3%); 68 Italians (75.5%) and 22 foreigners (24.5%). At the time the events occurred, 42% (n = 38) of the victims were minors aged less than 16 years. In 11 cases, the age of the victim is not indicated. The assailant was an acquaintance of the victim in 65% of the cases (in 73% of these cases, the assailant was a family member). In 26 cases (28%) happened indoor, 44 cases happened outdoor and in 20 cases there were no data. Evidence of recent acute general body trauma (abrasions, bruises, lacerations) was found in 38 cases (42%); other types of injuries include: genital trauma (14 cases, 15%), genital and body traumas (49 cases, 54%) (tab. 1–2-). In 24 cases (26%) there were no injuries. Among genital trauma, we distinguished vulvo-vaginal lesions (68.5%) and anal lesions (31.5%). We have classified the minor victims using first Adam’s classification and based on Adam’s classification revised in 2015.ConclusionApplication of the Ve.R.S.O project protocol changed and greatly improved health management of victims of violence. By following these procedures, violence and abuse are analyzed from every point of view, also for an appropriate assessment of the medium and long term health consequences of sexual assault. Only in this way are citizens provided with a high level of protection against gender violence, psychological support and prevention from any form of violence which takes place in respect of such vulnerable people.
Highlights
Sexual assault (SA) is any form of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient of the unwanted sexual act (Ellison et al 2008)
Physical violence is more frequent among the foreign women (25.7% vs. 19.6%), while sexual violence is more common among Italian women (21.5% vs. 16.2%)
Characteristics of the victims During the study period, 90 suspected victims of rape/sexual assault were referred for examination, 88 females (97%) and 2 males (3%); 68 Italians (75.5%) and 22 foreigners (24.5%) (Fig. 3)
Summary
Sexual assault (SA) is any form of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient of the unwanted sexual act (Ellison et al 2008). The family is generally considered a safe, secure place, the violence is more frequently carried out at home and the assailant is often a person known by the victim; it is sometimes a life threatening setting, involving victims of every age and cultural level, in different forms and degrees of abuse, causing physical damage and severe consequences with regard to mental health (Saint-Martin et al 2007; Ingemann-Hansen et al 2009). Violence and Operative Healthcare Networks (Ve.R.S.O.) project, produced as the Italian part of the “Daphne II program”, foresaw the development and practice of an integrated social and health services including social agencies, legal authorities and medical staff, police enforcement to create an effective specialized service for the management of sexual assault/abuse victims. Aim: data analysis emerging from 10 years experience of Daphne protocol utilization for the management of sexual assault victims
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