Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 4 , Pages 182-188 , May 2009

Characteristics of victims and assaults of sexual violence – Improving inquiries and prevention

  • Ole Ingemann-Hansen, MD (Specialty Registrar)

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Forensic Medicine, Section of Clinical Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
    • The Western Danish Sexual Assault Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Institute of Forensic Medicine, Section of Clinical Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. Tel.: +45 42 98 00; fax: +45 86 12 59 95.
    • ,
  • Svend Sabroe, MD (Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
    • ,
  • Ole Brink, MD PhD (Associate Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Forensic Medicine, Section of Clinical Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark
    • The Western Danish Sexual Assault Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
    • ,
  • Maiken Knudsen, Mpsych (Psychologist)

      Affiliations

    • The Western Danish Sexual Assault Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Norrebrogade 44, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
    • ,
  • Annie Vesterbye Charles, MD DMSc (Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Forensic Medicine, Section of Clinical Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Brendstrupgaardsvej 100, 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark

Received 5 December 2007 ,Revised 6 June 2008 ,Accepted 8 July 2008.

References 

  1. Statistics Denmark. Available from: <http://www.statbank.dk/>BEF1A [accessed 26.10. 07].
  2. Helweg-Larsen K. The value of the medico-legal examination in sexual offences. Forensic Sci Int. 1985;27:145–155
  3. Worm AM, Johansen MS, Nielsen NH. Sexual abuse assessed by forensic examinations. Ugeskr Laeger. 1997;160:41–44
  4. Balvig F. The extent and character of rapes in Denmark. A study of reported rapes 1990, 1991, 1992 and the development in rapes in Denmark. Copenhagen: The National Commissioner of Police; 1998;
  5. Charles AV, Brink O, Banner J. Politi og ikke-politianmeldt voldtægt og voldtægtsforsøg i Aarhus Amt i perioden 1. November 1999–1. November 2000. Scand J Criminol. 2001;88:330–336[in Danish]
  6. Schei B, Sidenius K, Lundvall L, Ottesen GL. Adult victims of sexual assault: acute medical response and police reporting among women consulting a center for victims of sexual assault. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2003;82:750–755
  7. Hilden M, Schei B, Sidenius K. Genitoanal injury in adult female victims of sexual assault. Forensic Sci Int. 2005;154:200–205
  8. Rohde MC, Charles AV, Banner J, Brink O. Rape and attempted rape in Aahus County, Denmark. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. 2006;2:33–38
  9. Ingemann-Hansen O. The Western Danish Center for Prevention, Treatment and Research of Sexual Assault. Scand J Forensic Sci. 2006;12:25–29
  10. Bang L. Who consults for rape? Sociodemographic characteristics of rape victims attending a medical rape trauma service at the Emergency Hospital in Oslo. Scand J Prim Health Care. 1993;11:8–14
  11. Bang L. Rape victims–assaults, injuries and treatment at a medical rape trauma service at Oslo Emergency Hospital. Scand J Prim Health Care. 1993;11:15–20
  12. Heimer G, Posse B, Stenberg A, Ulmsten U. A national center for sexually abused women in Sweden. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1996;53:35–39
  13. Agnarsdóttir G, Skúladóttir S. A new trauma service at the emergency department of the Reykjavik city hospital. Arctic Med Res. 1994;53:531–533
  14. Lacey HB. Sexually transmitted diseases and rape: the experience of a sexual assault centre. Int J STD AIDS. 1990;1:405–409
  15. Tintinalli JE, Hoelzer M. Clinical findings and legal resolution in sexual assault. Ann Emerg Med. 1985;14:447–453
  16. Evrard JR, Gold EM. Epidemiology and management of sexual assault victims. Obstet Gynecol. 1979;53:381–387
  17. McGregor MJ, Le G, Marion SA, Wiebe E. Examination for sexual assault: is the documentation of physical injury associated with the laying of charges? A retrospective cohort study. CMAJ. 1999;160:1565–1569
  18. Haugen K, Slungard A, Schei B. Sexual assault against women – injury pattern and victim–perpetrator relationship. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2005;125:3424–3427
  19. Schei B, Muus KM, Moen MH. Medical and legal aspects of rape. Referrals to a team for care of rape victims at the regional hospital in Trondheim during the period 1989–1992. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 1995;115:30–33
  20. Kerr E, Cottee C, Chowdhury R, Jawad R, Welch J. The Haven: a pilot referral centre in London for cases of serious sexual assault. BJOG. 2003;110:267–271
  21. Santos JC, Neves A, Rodrigues M, Ferrao P. Victims of sexual offences: medicolegal examinations in emergency settings. J Clin Forensic Med. 2006;13:300–303
  22. McGregor MJ, Du MJ, Myhr TL. Sexual assault forensic medical examination: is evidence related to successful prosecution?. Ann Emerg Med. 2002;39:639–647
  23. Riggs N, Houry D, Long G, Markovchick V, Feldhaus KM. Analysis of 1076 cases of sexual assault. Ann Emerg Med. 2000;35:358–362
  24. Thompson C. Review of 212 individuals attending a city centre genitourinary medicine clinic following acute sexual assault. J Clin Forensic Med. 2006;13:186–188
  25. Gray-Eurom K, Seaberg DC, Wears RL. The prosecution of sexual assault cases: correlation with forensic evidence. Ann Emerg Med. 2002;39:39–46
  26. Mejlvang P, Boujida V. Sexual assaults in Greenland: characteristics of police reported rapes and attempted rapes. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2007;66:257–263
  27. Grossin C, Sibille I, Lorin de la GG, Banasr A, Brion F, Durigon M. Analysis of 418 cases of sexual assault. Forensic Sci Int. 2003;131:125–130
  28. Slaughter L, Brown CR, Crowley S, Peck R. Patterns of genital injury in female sexual assault victims. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997;176:609–616
  29. Penttila A, Karhumen PJ. Medicolegal findings among rape victims. Med Law. 1990;9:725–737
  30. Nesvold H, Worm AM, Vala U, Agnarsdottir G. Different Nordic facilities for victims of sexual assault: a comparative study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2005;84:177–183
  31. Magid DJ, Houry D, Koepsell TD, Ziller A, Soules MR, Jenny C. The epidemiology of female rape victims who seek immediate medical care: temporal trends in the incidence of sexual assault and acquaintance rape. J Interpers Violence. 2004;19:3–12
  32. Saltzman LE, Basile KC, Mahendra RR, Steenkamp M, Ingram E, Ikeda R. National estimates of sexual violence treated in emergency departments. Ann Emerg Med. 2007;49:210–217
  33. Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R. World report on violence and health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002;
  34. Resnick HS, Holmes MM, Kilpatrick DG, et al. Predictors of post-rape medical care in a national sample of women. Am J Prev Med. 2000;19:214–219
  35. Scott HS, Beaman R. Demographic and situational factors affecting injury, resistance, completion, and charges brought in sexual assault cases: what is best for arrest?. Violence Vict. 2004;19:479–494
  36. Brink O, Vesterby A, Jensen J. Pattern of injuries due to interpersonal violence. Injury. 1998;29:705–709
  37. Ingemann-Hansen O, Brink O. City centre violence. J Clin Forensic Med. 2004;11:303–307
  38. Center for Voldtaegtsofre. Annual Report 2005 [in Danish]. Aarhus: Aarhus University Hospital and Region of Mid-Jutland. 2006.
  39. Brecklin LR, Ullman SE. Self-defense or assertiveness training and women’s responses to sexual attacks. J Interpers Violence. 2005;20:738–762
  40. Masho SW, Odor RK, Adera T. Sexual assault in Virginia: a population-based study. Womens Health Issues. 2005;15:157–166
  41. Sahu G, Mohanty S, Dash JK. Vulnerable victims of sexual assault. Med Sci Law. 2005;45:256–260
  42. Tellez C, Galleguillos T, Aliaga A, Silva C. Seasonal variation of sexual abuse in Santiago de Chile. Psychopathology. 2006;39:69–74
  43. Ullman SE, Filipas HH, Townsend SM, Starzynski LL. The role of victim–offender relationship in women’s sexual assault experiences. J Interpers Violence. 2006;21:798–819
  44. Rambow B, Adkinson C, Frost TH, Peterson GF. Female sexual assault: medical and legal implications. Ann Emerg Med. 1992;21:727–731
  45. Slaughter L, Brown CR. Colposcopy to establish physical findings in rape victims. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1992;166:83–86
  46. Sommers MS, Zink T, Baker RB, et al. The effects of age and ethnicity on physical injury from rape. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2006;35:199–207
  47. Champion HL, Foley KL, DuRant RH, Hensberry R, Altman D, Wolfson M. Adolescent sexual victimization, use of alcohol and other substances, and other health risk behaviors. J Adolesc Health. 2004;35:321–328
  48. Sommers MS. Defining patterns of genital injury from sexual assault: a review. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2007;8:270–280
  49. Wiley J, Sugar N, Fine D, Eckert LO. Legal outcomes of sexual assault. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2003;188:1638–1641
  50. McCormick JS, Maric A, Seto MC, Barbaree HE. Relationship to the victim predicts sentence length in sexual assault cases. J Interpers Violence. 1998;13:413–420
  51. Ullman SE, Brecklin LR. Alcohol and adult sexual assault in a national sample of women. J Subst Abuse. 2000;11:405–420
  52. Ullman SE, Siegel JM. Victim–offender relationship and sexual assault. Violence Vict. 1993;8:121–134
  53. Koss MP, Dinero TE, Seibel CA, Cox SL. Stranger and acquaintance rape. Psychol Women Quart. 1988;12:1–24
  54. Brecklin LR, Ullman SE. The roles of victim and offender alcohol use in sexual assaults: results from the National Violence against Women Survey. J Stud Alcohol. 2002;63:57–63
  55. MacDonald R. Time to talk about rape. BMJ. 2000;321:1034–1035
  56. Helweg-Larsen K, Sorensen HC. What do we know about the extent of violence against women in Denmark?. Ugeskr Laeger. 2000;162:1862–1866
  57. Wijma B, Schei B, Swahnberg K, et al. Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study. Lancet. 2003;361:2107–2113
  58. Hilden M, Sidenius K, Langhoff-Roos J, Wijma B, Schei B. Women’s experiences of the gynecologic examination: factors associated with discomfort. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2003;82:1030–1036
  59. Swahnberg K, Wijma B, Schei B, Hilden M, Irminger K, Wingren GB. Are sociodemographic and regional and sample factors associated with prevalence of abuse?. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2004;83:276–288
  60. Helweg-Larsen K, Kruse M. Maends vold mod kvinder. Odense: Reproff; 2004;[in Danish]

PII: S1752-928X(08)00179-0

doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2008.07.004

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
Volume 16, Issue 4 , Pages 182-188 , May 2009

Article Tools