Citation

Eckert LO, Sugar NF. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2008; 198(6): 688.e1-7; discussion 688.e7.

Affiliation

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ajog.2008.03.021

PMID

18538154

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: We performed this study to determine if sexual assault characteristics differ in women presenting for evaluation as women age. STUDY DESIGN: All females 20 years or older presenting after sexual assault to an urban emergency department during a nine year period underwent standardized evaluation. Analysis was performed by chi(2). RESULTS: We evaluated 2399 women: 1743 women 20-39 years, 554 women 40-55 years, and 102 women over 55 years of age. Compared with the other age groups, older women were more commonly assaulted in their own home (36%) or care facility (33%), P < .001, assaulted by a service provider (16.7%) or stranger (18.6%), P < .001, impaired (54.9%), P < .001, admitted to the hospital (15.7%), P < .001, incur genital trauma (35.6%), P = .04, and less likely to have a weapon used (7.8%), P = .003. CONCLUSION: Sexual assault in older women has distinct characteristics, which may be useful in planning intervention and prevention strategies.

Language: en