Victims Of Assault Research Articles

A Retrospective Analysis of Assault Admissions at a Regional Medical College in Jharkhand: Examining Factors that Impact Patient Outcome

Abstract Background: Assault admissions pose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Understanding factors influencing surgical intervention for assault victims can improve resource allocation and patient care. This study aims to analyze a large dataset of assault admissions at a regional medical college to identify factors associated with surgical management. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of admissions at Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College (SBMCH), Hazaribag, Jharkhand India, between Jan 2023 and December 2023. We reviewed data for over 4,000 admissions and identified 1,339 cases admitted due to assault-related injuries. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between potential predictors (age category, length of stay, time of admission, and gender) and the likelihood of requiring surgical intervention. SPSS v29.0 was used while a p value of <0.05 was considered as of statistical significance. Result: Assault admissions constituted approximately 30% of the total admissions during the study period. Time of admission significantly impacted the need for surgery. Patients admitted later (off-hours/) had slightly higher odds of requiring referrals. Gender also emerged as a significant predictor. Age category and length of stay did not show statistically significant associations with surgical intervention. Conclusion: This study highlights the high prevalence of assault admissions and the potential influence of time of admission and gender on surgical management. Additionally, the high referral rate to higher centers suggests a need for increased access to neurosurgical services within the region. The challenge of patients leaving against medical advice (LAMA) warrants further investigation. Future research should explore specific injury types requiring surgery and potential gender differences in assault injuries.

“You Don’t ‘Just Know’”: Difficulties in Determining Desire, Recognizing Trauma, and Accessing High-Quality Sexual Education in Neurodiverse Young Adults

Prior literature has indicated that autistic students report unsatisfactory sexual education experiences and may also be at greater risk of both sexual assault victimization and perpetration than non-autistic peers. Current mixed methods findings combine data from two related studies to explore satisfaction with sexual education among autistic and non-autistic college students. Findings support hypotheses that autistic students are less satisfied with consent education than non-autistic peers. Qualitatively, a theme of difficulties in identifying one’s own desire to consent was observed across groups. Within the autistic group, a theme of delayed recognition of sexual assault was observed. Findings support the importance of early and comprehensive sexual education and suggest further attention may be needed to support students in navigating healthy sexual decision-making.

Studi Kasus Forensik Pada Luka Trauma Tumpul Ditinjau Dari Perspektif Medikolegal

Violence reflects social conflicts that can harm both the physical and psychological well-being of victims while violating legal norms. Although physical crime trends in Indonesia showed a decline from 2017 to 2019, North Sumatra remained the epicenter of violence incidents, particularly assault cases. The handling of such cases is inseparable from the role of Visum et Repertum, a legal document that serves as key evidence in the criminal justice process, as stipulated in Article 184 of the Indonesian Penal Code (KUHP). Through a case study of a 69-year-old man who became a victim of minor assault, this study highlights the process of medical investigation and legal analysis. A bruise on the head caused by a bare-handed blow did not hinder daily activities, classifying it as a minor assault punishable by up to three months in prison under Article 352 (1) of the Penal Code. This study emphasizes the need for synergy between controlling socio-economic factors and enforcing legal procedures to address violence, while strengthening the role of Visum et Repertum as a vital element of justice

Power Through Anonymity: Exploring Barriers to Reporting Sexual Assault Through Analysis of Reddit Data

In 2018, Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford's accusations of sexual assault against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and sexual assault convictions of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein prompted questioning of why sexual assault victims do not report incidents of sexual violence to law enforcement. A hashtag movement, #whyididntreport was started wherein people began sharing their stories of sexual violence and the reasons they didn’t report. Even though research investigating barriers to reporting sexual violence exists such open, voluntary accounts have not existed before nor have been studied. This study used data from a social media website Reddit to capture barriers to reporting sexual assaults. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify six themes through the lens of feminist and social control theories. These findings indicate that even with more readily available knowledge about sexual assault, understanding of consent is still lacking. In addition, the current political climate is adding to fear of consequences when reporting sexual assaults. The implications of these findings for social workers indicate the necessity of social worker's role not only in reporting and clinical work, but also in advocacy and policy work relating to sexual assault.

Causal Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Condom Negotiation Skills of Women with Varying Sexual Assault Histories.

Sexual assault victimization experience and alcohol consumption are well-documented HIV risk factors for women who have sex with men (WSM). Nonetheless, behavioral mechanisms of the synergistic effects of these factors on women's increased HIV risk are not well delineated. This study is the first to examine the interactive effects of sexual assault history and acute intoxication on women's condom negotiation behavior during a face-to-face role-play with a male actor. Participants were female, single, social drinkers, ages 21 to 35, recruited from the community. Women were categorized as having experienced past sexual assault victimization or not based on their questionnaire responses, then were randomly assigned to consume either no alcohol or alcohol (0.08 target BAC) and engaged in a role-play with a male actor that included condom use negotiation. Participants' verbal, paraverbal, and nonverbal behavior was video recorded and coded by independent raters. As hypothesized, sexual assault history interacted with alcohol condition to significantly influence participants' assertive condom negotiation behavior. These results further our scientific understanding of how intoxication may exacerbate the relationship between sexual assault history and HIV risk, and can inform prevention programs tailored to the unique needs of WSM who have a history of sexual assault victimization and are social drinkers.

Physical injury in men after sexual assault: An analysis of 137 cases.

Data on the prevalence of physical injury in men who experience sexual assault are under-represented in the literature; the aim of this study is to inform this knowledge gap. It is vital that forensic examiners have access to up-to-date information regarding the prevalence of genito-anal and extra-genital injury, specific to their examination method (i.e. with or without proctoscopy), as well as any associations with injury in order to provide optimal responsive care and accurate testimony in the context of written and oral evidence. This is a cross-sectional study analysing the attendances of all males who attended the Dublin Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) for a forensic examination between 1/1/2017 and 31/12/2023. During the study period there were 2495 attendances. Of these, 199 (8.0 %) were male, with 68.8 % (n = 137/199) undergoing a forensic examination. Within this cohort, genito-anal injury was identified in 19.7 % (n = 27/137). Anal injury was present in 14.6 % (n = 20/137) and genital injury was present in 5.8 % (n = 8/137). For those who disclosed completed anal penetration (either penile-anal, digital-anal penetration or object-anal penetration) and who underwent proctoscopic examination (n = 53) the injury rate was 24.5 % (n = 13/53). Extra-genital injuries were present in 40.1 % (n = 55/137). Those who had a genito-anal injury were significantly more likely to have been the victim of a multiple perpetrator assault (OR2.72 CI1.05-6.97 p = 0.03). Those who had extra-genital injuries were significantly more likely to have attended within 24 hours of the incident (OR2.89 CI1.03-4.22 p = 0.03). No other incident detail was found to have an association with the presence of genito-anal or extra-genital injury. Genital injuries and/or anal injuries were absent in a large proportion of men after sexual assault. Extra-genital injuries were found in a higher proportion of men. It is anticipated that these findings will better inform society, the police and also assist forensic examiners in providing accurate and informed prevalence rates for medico-legal evidence in the criminal justice system. These findings also underscore the importance of comprehensive medical examinations and timely medical intervention for assault victims, highlighting the need for targeted support and care strategies.

University students’ perspectives on physiological sexual arousal in victims of sexual assault: The role of gender and rape myths

Are university students aware that physiological sexual arousal (i.e., erection, lubrication, orgasm) may occur in victims during a sexual assault? In this study, we examined this question and the role of the gender of the participant, the gender of the victim, and the gender of the perpetrator on perceptions of physiological sexual arousal in sexual assault victims. They also examined the link between endorsement of rape myths and these perceptions. A sample of 477 female and 230 male students was recruited and invited to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire included an adapted version of the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance–Short Form (IRMA-SF) scale, along with questions about perceptions of sexual arousal in various scenarios of sexual assault. In general, students agreed that physiological sexual arousal could occur in some victims. Particularly, students overall judged sexual arousal to be most likely when both the perpetrator and the victim are men. For erection in male victims specifically, male students believed it to be more plausible when the perpetrator is a woman. Female students thought that lubrication is more likely to occur than male students did, regardless of the gender of the perpetrator. Endorsement of rape myths was negatively associated with the belief that it is possible for a victim to experience sexual arousal during a sexual assault. Almost all participants asserted that there is not enough awareness of this phenomenon, which highlights the potential implications of this study for educational initiatives.

Cohort Study of Indecent Exposure in the Netherlands from 2012 to 2020: Incidents, Perpetrators, Victims, and Trends over Time.

Indecent exposure is often regarded as a nuisance offense and detailed studies into this topic are relatively rare. However, there is consensus that relatively high recidivism rates and risk of escalation to more severe offenses can be of serious concern among these perpetrators. This cohort study aims to increase our general knowledge on the basic characteristics of these offenses and includes all registered police cases of indecent exposure in the Netherlands between 2012 and 2020, including 6741 incidents, involving 4663 suspects and 3808 registered victims. This first study of a large cohort over a long period of time describes the basic characteristics of these incidents, the perpetrators and their victims, and visualizes the results to explore trends over time. Results show that a modal indecent exposure incident is perpetrated by a 25-year-old male, on foot, on a public road, on a Wednesday afternoon in July, masturbating and directing his genitals intentionally toward a 13-year-old girl. The age distribution of victims shows remarkable similarity to victims of sexual assault. Compared to the first year of the period studied, the number of annually reported incidents gradually declined to half in the last year of the study. Findings are discussed in light of the most prominent theories on exhibitionism. Issues and suggestions relevant to apprehension and treatment of perpetrators are identified and discussed.

Cognitive Map of Perceptions of Social Networks as a Means of Justice in Sexual Offenses

The decision to share deeply personal experiences of sexual violence publicly is complex and multifaceted. This study provides valuable insights into this phenomenon. Interviews conducted with fifteen victims of sexual assault in Israel provide insights into the decision-making pathways of victims. The existing literature on sexual victims of sexual assault in Israel offers insights into their decision-making pathways but often lacks integration between theoretical concepts and practical outcomes. This article contributes to this field by proposing a detailed cognitive map that illuminates the specific decisions made by victims in choosing where to disclose their assault. The cognitive map presented in this study provides a comprehensive view of victims’ decision-making pathways. This study is part of a larger research project that involves interviewing communication consultants and analyzing posts from the social network platform Instagram to better understand the perceptions and behaviors of sexual assault victims. The interviews brought up four main themes: the existence of communicative justice and its importance as an arena for achieving justice; social media is critical for achieving justice, sometimes even more than the institutional arena; procedural justice is more important than outcome justice; voice is a leading principle in procedural justice principles.

I Belong: Gender and Sexuality Minoritized Students' Positive Perceptions of Campus Climate Protect Against PTSD Following Sexual Assault.

Sexual assault is a widespread problem among institutions of higher education. Students whose gender and/or sexuality are minoritized (GSM; non-cisgender and/or non-heterosexual) are especially vulnerable to experiencing sexual assault and its negative consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A sense of belonging within the campus community can protect victims of sexual assault from negative psychological outcomes; however, no study to date has examined whether this aspect of a positive campus climate protects GSM victims, in particular, from developing more severe PTSD symptoms after sexual assault. We hypothesized that GSM victims would experience more severe PTSD symptoms than non-GSM victims after experiencing sexual assault and that their perceptions of campus climate would moderate this relationship. All undergraduate students from a public liberal arts college on the East Coast were asked to participate in an online survey about their history of sexual assault and emotional well-being. Of those who completed the survey, approximately 18% reported a history of sexual assault (N = 146). GSM victims of sexual assault reported more severe PTSD symptoms than non-GSM victims; however, a significant interaction showed that PTSD symptoms were similar for GSM and non-GSM victims with high ratings of campus climate. Thus, positive perceptions of campus climate protected GSM students from experiencing more severe PTSD symptoms. These findings inform administrative efforts by suggesting the need for more inclusive support resources (i.e., crisis centers and orientation materials), curricula, and community spaces for GSM students.

“The Age of Malice”: Estupro, Consent, and the Foundations of Victim Blaming in the Criminal Courts of Buenos Aires, 1853–1878

This article examines the judicial treatment of pubescent, female victims of sexual assault in Buenos Aires, Argentina, between 1853 and 1878, dates that span the decades between the national constitution and the adoption by Buenos Aires Province of new penal legislation. Centering the case of 13-year-old Irene Mestosini, it analyzes the prosecution of estupro cases through the paradigm of rape culture and victim blaming. It exposes how, by casting pubescent girls as malicious because of their physical and mental development, authorities blamed them for their assault while dismissing men's aggressive sexuality. By illustrating the ways in which physiological development worked alongside legal cultures, class expectations, and heteronormative gender norms to create a culture of impunity around sexual assault, this article suggests that modern notions of acceptable and unacceptable sexuality emerged in Buenos Aires earlier than in other parts of Latin America, where honor remained a central concern well into the twentieth century.

Profile of Medico-legal Age Estimation Cases in a Tertiary Hospital in Kathmandu

Introduction: Medico-legal age estimation is the estimation of chronological age of an individual which is based upon analysis of physical development of the body, development of secondary sexual traits, tooth eruption, appearance of ossification centers of bones, and the degree of epiphyseal union. Chronological age of the subject whether a minor (less than 18 years) or an adult determines the fate of the case in the court of law. Objective: The present study revealed varied profiles of the perpetrator and the victim who came for medico-legal age estimation. Methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine (IoM). The data of medico-legal age estimation of 5 years period was analyzed using the statistical software SPSS 20. Results: Total of 313 individuals were studied. Majority of the individuals were within the age group of 16-17 years. Males (70.3 %) outnumbered females (29.7 %). Theft (31.9 %) was common among subjects, followed by sexual assault (18.2 %) and majority of subjects (59.7%) came from Province 3. Sixty percent of the subject’s alleged age, matched the estimated ages. Conclusion: This study shows the status of children in crime which demands attention of concerned authority. Males were significantly involved in theft and females were victims of sexual assault. Forty percent of the alleged age given by the subject differed from the estimated age, to change the fate of the case. These results could greatly benefit the judiciary system of Nepal.

Voluntary Victim Intoxication in Sexual Assault State Statutes: A Content Analysis.

Recent events, such as the #Metoo movement, have renewed sexual assault victims calls for change. Legal change has, unfortunately, been slow for sexual assault survivors who were voluntarily intoxicated during their victimization. To understand the legal remedies available for voluntarily intoxicated victims', this study explored state sexual assault laws across the United States of America. The results indicate that there exist significant shortcomings in the interpretation of and evidentiary requirements in voluntary victim intoxication cases. Policy implications from these results are discussed in the hopes of providing voluntarily intoxicated sexual assault victims greater access to justice.

Retaliation in workplace sexual assault: The effect of #MeToo on federal court cases in the United States

The number of federal claims filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in the United States by alleged victims of workplace sexual assault increased following the #MeToo movement along with allegations of retaliation by employers against these victims for making formal claims of sexual discrimination. This study distinctively presents an examination, not of the number of EEOC claims, but instead those claims which became federal court cases over the last three years in which a claims of workplace retaliation were alleged because of sexual assault in the workplace. The study provides an empirical examination of numerous characteristics, related factors, and outcomes of such retaliation cases involving sexual assault in the contemporary #MeToo era. The implications of these diverse results are advanced along with recommendations for employers and employees alike.

Large Language Models in an App: Conducting a Qualitative Synthetic Data Analysis of How Snapchat’s “My AI” Responds to Questions About Sexual Consent, Sexual Refusals, Sexual Assault, and Sexting

ABSTRACT Comprehensive sexual health education for young people often remains largely inaccessible, leaving gaps in knowledge about sexual consent, refusals, sexual assault, and sexting. Snapchat’s My AI, tailored to its users, offers accessible and potentially stigma-free responses to sexual health queries, showing promise in addressing these gaps. This study aimed to evaluate My AI’s effectiveness in handling questions related to sexual communication, assault, and sexting, and its response consistency across users. Collaborating with young adults and leveraging prior literature, our team formulated questions on sexual consent, refusals, sexual assault, and sexting submitted to My AI by 15 researchers. Each team member opened a chat with My AI in Snapchat and asked it a set of questions in the same order. We then conducted a qualitative content analysis to assess for consistency across users. My AI responses emphasized the importance of clear, honest consent and refusal communication through physical contact or direct conversation. With potential experiences of sexual assault or sexting, it advised consultation with a trusted caregiver. While My AI provided similar responses across researchers, variations were noted. My AI’s responses mirrored common sexual health education messages and the responses used language reflective of sympathy toward potential assault victims or those who were asked for sexual images. My AI’s potential to enhance accessibility to sexual health information could empower young people in making informed sexual health decisions. However, variability in responses may limit impact and comprehension, underscoring the importance of educators complementing these tools.

Maxillofacial Trauma in Females: A Retrospective Study.

Maxillofacial trauma in females is not widely reported. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and the patterns of maxillofacial injuries in females and to determine the differences in these patterns among different causes. This retrospective study analyzed several variables, including demographic, social, injury-related, and treatment-related variables, and compared these variables in relation to the main etiologies of maxillofacial trauma. The main etiologies of maxillofacial injuries involving females were assault, followed by road traffic accidents, and falls. There were significant differences in relation to the 3 etiologies in age groups (P= 0.002) and marital status (P< 0.0001). There were significantly more soft tissue injuries in the assault group compared with the other groups (P= 0.007). Associated injuries were significantly more with injuries caused by road traffic accidents (P= 0.0009). Most females were victims of assault and violence. There were significant differences in relation to the etiology of trauma in terms of age groups, marital status, types of injury, and associated injuries. Most of the assaults were due to domestic violence.

Sexual Victimization and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among a Nationally Representative Sample of Adolescents and Young Adults in Haiti.

Sexual assault victims are at major risk of being infected by sexually transmitted infections (STI). This article aims to examine and compare the prevalence of eight STIs (e.g., chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS, human papillomavirus) among victims and non-victims of sexual abuse. A national cross-sectional study was conducted in Haiti, using a multistage sampling frame, stratified by geographical department, urban or rural setting, gender, and age groups (15-19 and 20-24years). The final sample included 3586 household participants (47.6% female). A weighted sample of 3945 individuals was obtained and used in the following analyses. Overall, 21.75% (95% CI 19.91-23.59) of participants reported having been diagnosed with at least one STI in their lifetime, with a higher prevalence among men (25.70%; 95% CI 22.89-28.52), compared to women (18.11%; 95% CI 15.73-20.49), χ2 = 16.43; p < 0.001). Sexual abuse victims were more likely to report STIs (31.27%; 95% CI 29.21-33.34), compared to non-victims (18.40%; 95% CI 16.68-20.13), χ2 = 27.89; p < .001. Sexual abuse was associated to an increased risk of contracting at least one STI (OR = 1.74; 95% CI 1.35, 2.24). The results demonstrate that sexual abuse is associated with a general increase of reporting STIs. They indicate the need for national sexual abuse prevention programs at early ages. These programs should be implemented in schools and churches, focusing on the role of families in sexuality education. Finally, programs must be developed to eradicate community violence-especially in the cities-as increased political and social violence has always been associated with increased sexual abuse in Haiti.

Developing An Online Course To Increase Staff Awareness And Responses To Unwanted And Illegal Sexual Behaviour Perpetrated Against Older People

Abstract Background The idea that older people can be victims of unwanted sexual behaviour or sexual assault in health and social care settings is relatively recent. In the Irish context, 165 reports of sexual abuse of older people were made to the HSE National Safeguarding and Protection teams in 2022. The prevalence of sexual abuse against older people in health and social care settings is poorly understood and there is an acknowledgement that hospital staff require additional training to understand and manage incidents. Methods In response to the need for training and support for staff, an online awareness-raising course based on a pre-developed course from Australia ‘Preventing unwanted sexual behaviour against older people in health and social care settings’ will be adapted, trialled and tested in a large acute teaching hospital. This course sets out to support acute care staff to identify and manage incidents of sexualised behaviour, to seek expert help and to ensure that older people are protected from unwanted and at times, what may constitute illegal sexual behaviour. Results The adapted course ‘Understanding and Responding to Unwanted or Illegal Sexual Behaviour Perpetrated against Older People in Health and Social Care Settings’ utilises a trauma-informed lens and key themes covered include defining unwanted sexual behaviours, understanding older people and sexual behaviour, risk factors for sexual abuse, barriers to recognising and reporting abuse and managing incidents. Conclusion The ‘trial and test’ will involve a feedback survey (N=50 respondents) and focus groups with participating healthcare professionals from the hospital site informing further refinement of the course content in preparation for wider rollout and implementation across Ireland's health and social care settings.

Preliminary Efficacy of Positive Change(+Change): A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Integrated Alcohol and Sexual Assault Prevention Program Tailored by Gender and Sexual Orientation.

The current study presents preliminary efficacy findings of a pilot randomized controlled trial of Positive Change© (+Change© ). +Change© utilizes personalized normative feedback to target alcohol use, sexual assault (SA) victimization, SA perpetration, and bystander intervention tailored for heterosexual cisgender men, heterosexual cisgender women, and sexual and gender-minoritized (SGM) groups. Participants included 165 undergraduate students aged 18 to 25 years old from a large public university in the Southwestern U.S. who engaged in past month heavy episodic drinking. Participants (57 cisgender heterosexual men; 54 cisgender heterosexual women; and 54 SGM) were randomized to +Change© (n = 83) or an assessment-only control (n = 82) and completed surveys online at baseline and 3-month follow-up in a parallel design with a 1:1 ratio (NCT04089137). The current study presents the secondary outcomes of the pilot randomized controlled trial which include alcohol use, SA victimization, SA perpetration, and bystander intervention behavior. +Change© was associated with significantly less severe SA victimization and more bystander intervention behavior at 3-month follow-up relative to the control. There were no significant differences between conditions in alcohol use at 3-month follow-up, however, the magnitude of decreases in drinking in the +Change© condition in this pilot study were consistent with other personalized normative feedback interventions. The present study was unable to assess differences in SA perpetration due to low base rates. No adverse effects among those receiving the intervention were observed. Findings suggested that +Change© may be a feasible strategy to prevent SA, by reducing student SA victimization and increasing bystander intervention. A fully powered randomized clinical trial is needed to examine the effects of +Change©.

Evaluating Digital Imaging Technologies for Anogenital Injury Documentation in Sexual Assault Cases

Purpose: Photo-documentation is a critical component of care and an indispensable skill for forensic clinicians treating patients who have experienced violence and trauma. This retrospective study examines the frequency and nature of anogenital injuries identified through colposcope digital imaging in comparison to those detected using a high-resolution camera system. Methods: This retrospective, before-and-after study evaluated genital injuries in all adult women (over 16 years old) who presented to a freestanding Nurse Examiner Clinic (NEC) following sexual assault during a 3-year period. The clinic is supervised by forensic clinicians trained in conducting medical-forensic examinations. In 2016-2017, all injuries were documented using the Cooper Surgical Leisegang© colposcope system, while in 2018, injuries were recorded exclusively with a high-resolution camera system. The primary outcome was the frequency of genital findings documented in sexual assault victims from each group. Results: A total of 367 women were evaluated in the "before" period and 180 in the "after" period. Both groups were similar in terms of demographics, assault history, time to examination, alcohol use, and the occurrence of genital injuries (76.1% vs. 74.9%, p = 0.76). However, patients examined with the high-resolution camera system had a significantly higher number of documented anogenital injuries (2.4 vs. 1.8, p &lt; 0.001). This group also had more anogenital abrasions identified (51.1% vs. 27.0%, p &lt; 0.001). The injury patterns between the two groups were not statistically different. Conclusion: Accurate and reliable photo documentation are the key components of forensic medical documentation. Our findings indicate that the detection of anogenital injuries may differ based on the imaging system used.