Appraisal of Sexual Offence Cases Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital Mohanty Punyanshu1, Sethi Abarnita2,* 1Principal & Professor of Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, P.R.M. Medical College, Baripada, Odisha 2Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, M.K.C.G Medical College, Berhampur, Odisha *Corresponding Author : Dr. Abarnita Sethi, Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, M.K.C.G Medical College, Berhampur, Phone : +91-8847854373, E-mail: sethiabarnita1@gmail.com
Online Published on 28 July, 2023. Abstract Introduction Sexual offence is one of the common and challenging global menaces which have a detrimental effect on the society. Our study aims to identify the groups at risk, the circumstances of allegations and analyse the descriptive data on medico-legal findings. Materials and Methods 132 victims of sexual assault which came to our hospital during 2019 and 2020 were studied and their data analysed. Results This study revealed a decreasing trend in sexual offence with only female victims and mostly Hindu (94.7%). The victim’s age ranged from 1.5 to 63 years with a mean of 18.7 years and median 16 years. Most vulnerable victims (72%) were in age group 11-20 years with 63.6%minors and 90.9% unmarried. Maximum (48.5%) victims were educated up to secondary school level. Students (38.6%) were mostly victimized followed by unemployed (32.6%). Most (38.6%) incidences occurred in the summer (March-June), between 4pm -12 midnight (47.7%) and in victim’s house (37.1%). The perpetrator was known to the victim in 91.7% and were close friends (50.8%)followed by neighbour (21.2%). Cases were filed mostly (69.7%) by the parents. 41.7% victims were brought after one month of the incidence and only 18.9% within 72 hours. We found allegation of forcible penetrative sexual assault in 29 (22%), penile sexual assault in 127 (96.2%), anal penetration in 2 (1.5%) and insertion of finger or other parts in 3 (2.3%) cases, extra genital injuries in 8 (6%), recent genital injury in 9 (6.8%), old hymenal tear (118, 89.4%) and no injury in 5 (3.8%). In 10 cases (7.6%) victim was blackmailed by her photograph/video, whereas no criminal threat was used in 87.1% cases. 3 victims were mentally ill, 2 perpetrators were minor and 15 were married. About 11.4% victims were pregnant and none of the vaginal smear examined showed spermatozoa. Top Keywords Sexual Assault, Victims, Medico-Legal Findings, Genital Injury. Top |