Medico-legal assessment of sexual assault victims in Lahore.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was the medico-legal assessment of sexual assault victims in Lahore, and to know the characteristics of the assailants in these cases. METHODS: This study included all 123 female cases of alleged sexual assault that presented for medical examination at the office of the surgeon medico-legal Punjab at Lahore during 2002. RESULTS: Around 64% of the victims were between 10-19 years of age, 76% presented for medical examination after a delay of more than 72 hours. The assailant was known to the victim in 57% cases. Two or more assailants were involved in 30% cases. The victims had changed clothes and washed their bodies before the medical examination in 83% cases. Physical evidence of violence on the body was present in only 15% of the victims and evidence of recent injury to the genital tract was present in 18% individuals. However a positive semen analysis was reported in 98.35% of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual assault was more common in younger females. Late presentation for examination was due to the embarrassment of being exposed. A positive semen analysis was the definite factor for confirmation of the assault.

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