Sexual violence: epidemiological and clinical aspects and circumstances of occurrence among women seen at the Gynecology-Obstetrics department of the Ignace Deen National Hospital of Conakry University Hospital.

Abstract

Sexual violence is widespread in the world and has a negative impact on women's mental, social, and physical well-being. The purpose of this study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the occurrence of sexual violence among patients seen in the Gynecology-Obstetrics department at Ignace Deen National Hospital. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study of victims of sexual violence seen in the department, directly or on court orders, during the two-year period from May 1, 2016, to April 30, 2018. The data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 software. Sexual violence accounted for 3.5% of all consultations in the department during the study period. They concerned adolescents (64.0%), females (97.1%), students (78.6%), and single individuals (95.7%). More than half of the sexual assaults were committed in the abuser's home (57.1%), by an assailant known to the victim (87.0%), at night (71.4%), by one person (85.7%), and during the weekend (60.0%). The lesions observed included vulvovaginitis (45.8%), vaginal tears (8.7%), facial bruises (8.7%), anal tears (4.4%), and ocular contusions (4.4%). The gynecological examination was normal in 21.4% of cases. Vaginal penetration was the sexual act practiced most often (88.4%) by aggressors, compared with acts of sodomy (4.3%). We noted 7.2% of fondling. Overall, 58.6% had previously had their hymen broken, and 34.3 very recently, while the hymen was intact in 7.1% of cases. The frequency of sexual violence is underestimated in our society. Its prevention involves its punishment, adequate medical care of victims, and improvement of the status of women.