Medical evaluation of sexual assault findings in the Auckland region.

A five year retrospective study of medical findings in sexual assault is presented. Data from examinations of 109 children and 81 adults were analysed. Results indicate that those at highest risk of sexual assault are Maori girls and young women, who were just over a quarter of the cases seen, although only 8.7% of the Auckland city population. Pacific Island children also appear to be at increased risk (19% of child victims but only 10.9% of Auckland population). Over a third of the women raped were intoxicated with alcohol. It seems likely that drinking is an important factor in sexual assault. Children are usually abused by acquaintances or family (only 15% were stranger rape) and often in their own home. Over a third of adults were also assaulted in their own homes. Sexual assault victims are predominantly girls and young women. Only 7.3% were older than 30 years, although 37.7% of the Auckland female population is in this age group. Well over half the women raped were physically restrained and three quarters of them had signs of trauma on examination. A weapon was involved in nearly a quarter of the women. Medical findings will not often prove the assault, and only a minority of cases examined (28%) proceeded to court hearings.