Forensic aspects of sexual assaults examined at the Department of Forensic Medicine of the University Hospital Center of Bogodogo, Burkina Faso

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Résumé

Introduction: Sexual assaults are a global issue and remain a major concern in African countries. They raise
significant medico-legal challenges. This study, conducted at the Department of Forensic Medicine of CHU-B,
aimed to investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and medico-legal aspects of sexual assault victims received.
Materials and methods: We carried out a retrospective descriptive study over five years (from April 15, 2017, to
April 14, 2021) in the Forensic Medicine Department of Bogodogo University Hospital (CHU-B).
This was an exhaustive sampling of all case files of sexual assault victims received in our study setting.
Results: We collected 205 case files of victims. The mean age was 15.46 years. The sex ratio was 0.025. Pupils/
students represented 29.26 %. Perpetrators were adult males in 90.24 % of cases and acted alone in 90.24 %.
Threats were reported in 78.05 % of cases, including 12.19 % with a bladed weapon and 4.88 % with a firearm.
Assaults took place at home in 68.29 % of cases. In 70.73 % of cases, victims reported having been sexually penetrated
by the male organ in the vagina, mouth, or anus. Victims examined showed clinical signs consistent with
recent vaginal sexual penetration in 51.22 %. Spermatozoa were found in 8.78 % of cases.
Conclusion: Sexual assaults remain a public health problem. Studying the associated factors will help determine
specific preventive actions

Mots-clés

Keywords: Sexual assaults; Victims; Rape; Perpetrators