Retrospective study of alleged rape victims attended at Forensic Medicine Department of Dhaka Medical College, Bangladesh. 2003

Muhammad Nurul Islam, and Mohammed Nasimul Islam
Department of Forensic Medicine, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. mnirunu@yahoo.com

Sexual assault is one of the fast growing violent crimes in Bangladesh. We carried out a retrospective study of 675 alleged rape victims out of total examined 1665 cases during 1994-2000. In the last seven years, 441 victims refused examination and a final report is pending in 2.4% cases due to non-availability of ancillary investigation reports. We found that 48.9% cases were sexually abused based on history, physical evidence and opinion of the examining doctor although high vaginal swab for spermatozoa was found to be negative in all cases. Out of 675 cases studied in this paper, 33.5% was in the 12-15 year age group, in 511 cases the assailant was known to the victims, 23.7% was reported and was examined within 72 h of occurrence, unmarried persons constituted 56.6% cases and 69.9% was literate. In 45.8% of the cases the victims were abused during the daytime. Non-genital violence was observed in 91 cases, 2.9% was admitted to the hospital, 2% reported with pregnancy, 0.4% reported with abortion and four cases had a history of previous abuse. Genital findings included hymenal rupture in 38.9% and 9.6% cases of forchette were found with recent tears. In 248 cases, opinion was negative due to delayed attendance, false charge and time-consuming procedures.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D010808 Physical Examination Systematic and thorough inspection of the patient for physical signs of disease or abnormality. Physical Exam,Examination, Physical,Physical Examinations and Diagnoses,Exam, Physical,Examinations, Physical,Exams, Physical,Physical Examinations,Physical Exams
D011902 Rape Sexual intercourse without consent of the victim.
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females
D005554 Forensic Medicine The application of medical knowledge to questions of law. Legal Medicine,Medicine, Forensic,Medicine, Legal
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006924 Hymen A thin fold of MUCOUS MEMBRANE situated at the orifice of the vagina.

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