Sexual assault reporting: a retrospective study on care provided in gynaecology emergency care settings after sexual assault

Article Article scientifique Article Sexual assault reporting: a retrospective study on care provided in gynaecology emergency care settings after sexual assault eng 2025-07-25 2025-07-25 author Cottler Sara Division of Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland. 640504 author Figueira Lourenco Vera Division of Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland. 514649 author Guillot Cécilia Béatrice Carine Division of Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland. 896194 author Poncet Antoine Division of Clinical-Epidemiology, Department of Health and Community Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland.,Centre of Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 814032 author Musse Fartuun Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 880191 author Imbaud Romane Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 870477 author Mathevet Patrice Division of Gynaecology, Woman-Mother-Child Department, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland. author Petignat Patrick Division of Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland. 586685 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) author Yaron Michal Division of Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland. 668428 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) author Fracasso Tony University Centre of Legal Medicine Lausanne-Geneva (CURML), Lausanne, Switzerland. 731584 Institut de médecine légale (COLEG) author Abdulcadir Jasmine 0000-0001-6245-9181 Division of Gynecology, Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Geneva University Hospitals (HUG), Geneva, Switzerland. 796507 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) 3913 10.57187/s.3913 40811459 1424-3997 https://smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/3913 Objective: To assess the characteristics of all people reporting sexual assault at the obstetrics and gynaecology emergency departments of Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) and Lausanne University Hospitals (CHUV) between 2018 and 2021. Methods: Retrospective analysis of medicolegal reports for all people reporting sexual assault at the obstetrics and gynaecology emergency departments of HUG and CHUV between 2018 and 2021. Included: cisgender women, non-binary, queer persons, transgender men with a vulva and vagina and transgender women, regardless of sexual orientation, aged at least 14 years old. Excluded: Children and adolescents <14, cisgender men and trans men with a penis (who usually do not consult obstetrics and gynaecology emergency departments after a sexual assault) and recurrent patients with more than three sexual assaults reported at a participating centre within the study period (the first three assaults were included). During the study period, the two regional university hospitals used the same forensic sexual assault reporting forms, which allows a uniform description of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients reporting sexual assault as well as the characteristic of patients reporting sexual assault as well as the characteristics of the sexual assault itself. Key findings: Of the 962 sexual assault records during the 48-month study, 740 were retained for the analysis. Median age of victims: 24 years (interquartile range: 19 to 33 years; range: 14 to 93 years). On weekend days, the number of assaults was twice as high as on weekdays (45% of all sexual assaults took place during the weekend, on either a Saturday or Sunday). During the summer, the monthly number of assaults was increased by half. The summer months had the highest number of consultations (34%). 58% of victims reported knowing their assaulter, 28% did not, and due to amnesia, 14% did not know whether they knew their attacker or not. 24% of the patients were unable to recall or specify which types of penetration they were subjected to (if any), because of amnesia. 67% of patients reported vaginal penetration, 17% anal and 21% oral. 63% of victims reported some type of substance use (alcohol, drugs) prior to the assault. The police or public prosecutor ordered 40% of the sexual assault medicolegal examinations, while 60% of the victims came to the emergency department seeking care on their own. 56% of assaults take place at someone's home (victim's home, assailant's home, friend/family member's home, couple's home). 83% of patients were examined within 72 hours of the sexual assault. Ano-genital injuries were found in 28% of patients who underwent a gynaecological exam (n = 705). 21% of patients who underwent a gynaecological exam and reported anal penetration presented with anal injury. 28% of patients who underwent a gynaecological exam and reported vaginal penetration presented with genital injury. Conclusions and recommendations: Such data can inform the general population as well as actors working in this field, including legislators, about the use of services after sexual assault, prevention and health education strategies and how to improve services for people who are sexually assaulted. There is no countrywide observatory of persons consulting for sexual assault in Swiss hospitals. We aim to create a national observatory that can inform prevention [...] Humans Retrospective Studies Female Sex Offenses / statistics & numerical data Adult Male Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data Adolescent Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data Switzerland / epidemiology Middle Aged Aged Young Adult Gynecology / statistics & numerical data Aged, 80 and over Dewey 614.1 Dewey 618 58 Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique 223 67 Institut de médecine légale 22A2 217 Centre de recherche clinique 201 false 1450 Vulve, clitoris et violences sexuelles 1067 953 Groupe Fracasso Tony 959 590 Prévention du cancer du col utérin 933 Swiss medical weekly 155 6a63fd15-0f20-496a-abe9-dfaed4ed4841 Article (Published version) Public smw-2025-3913.pdf 1773326 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 e4b7c522f4409c20b3bc660665522cd1bb987a39cec8ce8f571804776dd02ced openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires / Institut de médecine légale Faculté de médecine / Centre de recherche clinique

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Sexual assault reporting: a retrospective study on care provided in gynaecology emergency care settings after sexual assault	Swiss medical weekly	2025	20	268
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