Sexual Assault Profile in Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Sexual assault cases are increasingly reported in Ethiopia and worldwide. However, in Ethiopia, sexual assaults’ profile was not investigated well, regardless of its social, physical, and psychological impacts on survivors. Hence, this study assessed the survivors’ characteristics, circumstances of the victims, and treatment offered with the view of describing the management process, and service responsiveness. METHODS: A descriptive study with 3 years retrospective chart review was conducted in Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC). Samples of 187 charts/medical records were selected using a systematic random sampling technique from the medical unit. The selected survivors’ records were reviewed using a structured checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21.0. RESULTS: Out of the 187 cases of sexual assaults during the study period, 67.4% were rape cases. Among these, 58.8% were below 14 years, and 85.6% knew their assailants. Above 30% of the victims were assaulted during the daytime, and 51.9% developed perennial laceration. Threat and physical force were mostly used to coerce victims during the violence. All of the survivors were not investigated for vaginal/anal swab (for sperm analysis), and 96.8% of the victims were not tested for HIV screening. Only 8% of the victims received emergency contraception. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Children and adolescents remain the most sexually assaulted group of the population, requiring protection and appropriate medical services to ensure their well-being and reduce their suffering. Appropriate and timely intervention is needed to care for such survivors. The findings have highlighted the need for closer monitoring and better follow-up of the care and support provided in the Medical Center to sexual assault victims.