Ohayi Samuel Robsam, Ezugwu Euzebus Chinonye
a Department of Pathology , Enugu State University Teaching Hospital , Enugu , Nigeria.
b Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences College of Medicine , University of Nigeria , Enugu , Nigeria.
J Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Feb;39(2):190-194. doi: 10.1080/01443615.2018.1474189. Epub 2018 Sep 26.
The study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of genital injuries among the female adolescents alleged to have been raped that presented at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) from January 1 2013 to August 31 2014. All of the adolescents alleged to have been raped that presented within the study period were studied, and the relevant data were extracted from their records. The data were analysed using the Epi info statistical software, Version 7. There were 78 adolescents alleged to have been raped within the study period. They were all female, with a mean age of 14.12 ± 5.6 years. The majority of them were virgins (n = 47, 60.3%). Five of them (6.4%) had multiple perpetrators. The prevalence of genital injuries was 44.9%, while the genital injury frequency rate was 1.2. Laceration was the commonest injury type, while the hymen was the most affected site (n = 15; 35.7%). Being a virgin at the time of the rape was significantly associated with the presence of genital injury (p < .001). This suggests that the absence of genital injury is not sufficient evidence to rule out the possibility of rape. Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Rape is a global problem with a severe negative impact on the victim. Apart from the associated psychological and emotional trauma, a genital injury could result. However, it appears that so much emphasis are usually placed on the presence of a genital injury in establishing an incident of rape in the developing world. Genital injuries seem to be the main substantive evidence of rape in the developing world including Nigeria. Convicting the perpetrator of rape in law court is usually difficult in the absence of genital injuries after medical examination. What the results of this study add? The result of this study shows that a genital injury is not be found in all cases of an alleged rape, especially among the adolescents. In fact, more than half of the rape survivors had no genital injury. What the implications are of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? The absence of a genital injury does not exclude the possibility of a rape, neither does its presence confirm a rape, as genital injuries can occur even in consensual sex. Adopting a modern method of establishing a rape case is very important for the provision of concrete evidence in court that will enable the proper and sound dispensation of justice.
该研究旨在确定2013年1月1日至2014年8月31日期间在埃努古州立大学教学医院（ESUTH）就诊的、据称遭受强奸的女性青少年中生殖器损伤的患病率及模式。对研究期间内所有据称遭受强奸的青少年进行了研究，并从他们的记录中提取了相关数据。使用Epi info统计软件7.0版对数据进行分析。在研究期间，有78名青少年据称遭受了强奸。她们均为女性，平均年龄为14.12±5.6岁。其中大多数是处女（n = 47，60.3%）。其中5人（6.4%）有多名作案者。生殖器损伤的患病率为44.9%，而生殖器损伤频率为1.2。裂伤是最常见的损伤类型，而处女膜是受影响最严重的部位（n = 15；35.7%）。强奸发生时是处女与生殖器损伤的存在显著相关（p < 0.001）。这表明生殖器损伤的缺失不足以排除强奸的可能性。影响声明关于这个主题已知的情况是什么？强奸是一个全球性问题，对受害者有严重的负面影响。除了相关的心理和情感创伤外，还可能导致生殖器损伤。然而，在发展中国家，在确定强奸事件时，似乎通常过于强调生殖器损伤的存在。在包括尼日利亚在内的发展中国家，生殖器损伤似乎是强奸的主要实质性证据。在医学检查后没有生殖器损伤的情况下，在法庭上判定强奸犯罪者通常很困难。这项研究的结果补充了什么？这项研究的结果表明，在所有据称的强奸案件中，并非都能发现生殖器损伤，尤其是在青少年中。事实上，超过一半的强奸幸存者没有生殖器损伤。这些发现对临床实践和/或进一步研究有什么影响？生殖器损伤的缺失并不排除强奸的可能性，其存在也不能证实强奸，因为即使在双方自愿的性行为中也可能发生生殖器损伤。采用现代方法来确定强奸案件对于在法庭上提供确凿证据非常重要，这将有助于正确和公正地伸张正义。
