Indicators of childhood sexual abuse in gynaecological patients in a general practice.

OBJECTIVE

To find indicators of a history of childhood sexual abuse in patients consulting for a gynaecological examination in a general practice.

DESIGN

Semistructured interview after a consultation.

SETTING

General practice in the city of Oslo, Norway.

PARTICIPANTS

Of 117 women aged 20-49 with a gynaeco- logical problem, 85 were interviewed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

History of childhood sexual abuse.

RESULTS

24 (28%) of 85 women interviewed by their female GP when consulting for a gynaecological problem reported childhood sexual abuse. In total they reported 32 abusive events, quite different as to the type of assault, the relation to the offender, and the duration. A history of pelvic pain or gynaecological surgery showed a significant association with reported childhood sexual abuse with odds ratios of 4.0 (CI 1.0-15.8) and 4.1 (CI 1.0-17.0), respectively. As adverse sexual experiences may lead to somatization as a coping strategy, certain findings might be indicators of unknown childhood sexual abuse in patients presenting for gynaecological disorders.

CONCLUSION

A history of pelvic pain and gynaecological surgery may be indicators of sexual abuse in childhood.