Victims and assailants’ profile of sexual abuse from an outpatient clinic. A descriptive study

Abstract

Sexual abuse is a significant problem in public health as it evolves from a multifactorial social phenomenon, bringing about consequences for the victim as well as society. It is a retrospective descriptive research held in an outpatient clinic for victims of sexual abuse from January 2002 to March 2005. The study aimed to: outline clients’ profiles and typify assailants. Most clients were women, between 15 and 20 years of age, elementary educational level, single, sexually active. The assailants intimidated them at gunpoint and most of them effected vaginal sexual intercourse. There were no cases of pregnancy, HIV or STDs among the properly treated clients. Only 12% returned to all appointments and 46% completed antiretroviral treatment.