Retrospective Study of Pattern and Medicolegal aspects of Sexual Offence Cases reported at a Government Tertiary Care Hospital in Tamil Nadu

Authors

  • S. Saravanan
  • K. Priyatharsini
  • R. Sangeetha

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v17i1.18885

Keywords:

sexual assault, rape victims, accused, hymen injury.

Abstract

Background: Women and off late children are being more vulnerable group for sexual assault which causes severe
and irreparable damage to the physical and more so to the mental health of the victims. As per the recent data,
woman faces a rape attempt every two hours and a case of assault with intent to outrage the women’s modesty is
reported every six minutes.
Aim: To analyze the pattern, social aspects and medico legal implications of sexual offence cases reported to a
government medical college hospital in South India.
Methodology: A retrospective record based study by analyzing the data of the past three years was conducted in
the department of forensic medicine and toxicology at Tanjore Medical College and Hospital (TN). A total of 185
sexual assault victims data were analysed in our study. Data of the subjects related to their age, marital status,
time of the assault, accompanying trauma and the report of the medical examination which were recorded in the
register were noted and analysed. All the data regarding accused which were entered in the register were also
noted.
Results: The minimum age of the rape victim was 6 years and the maximum age was 60 years with a mean age
of 17.5 years. The mean age of the accused was 27.7 years. Majority (89.7%) of the rape victims was known but
not relative for the accused. Majority of the victims educational status was higher secondary. Penovaginal was
the most commonest type of sexual assault conducted on the victims and the commonest place of crime was the
residence of the accused. Injury to the hymen is the most common type of physical injury occurred among the
victims. The average time interval between the rape incidence and the first medical examination was 24 days.
Conclusion: Wide spread education and awareness regarding sex and moral values is the need of the hour which
is to be taught both at college and at school level. The government and the society have to work unitedly to end
sexual abuse on females

Author Biographies

  • S. Saravanan

    Associate Professor,Department of Forensic Medicine,Thanjavur Medical College, Thanjavur

  • K. Priyatharsini

    Associate Professor, Institute of Forensic Medicine, Madras Medical College, Chennai

  • R. Sangeetha

    Associate Professor, Department of Forensic Medicine, Govt. Karur Medical College, Karur.

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Published

2022-12-21

How to Cite

Retrospective Study of Pattern and Medicolegal aspects of Sexual Offence Cases reported at a Government Tertiary Care Hospital in Tamil Nadu. (2022). Indian Journal of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, 17(1), 13-18. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijfmt.v17i1.18885