Comparative analysis of adult versus adolescent sexual assault: epidemiology and patterns of XXXX .

@entity1 @entity458 @entity130
OBJECTIVES: To compare the characteristics of sexual assault in pubertal @entity1 (<18 years old) and adults in a community-based population of @entity1 presenting to an urban @entity458 . METHODS: This case-series analysis evaluated consecutive female @entity1 presenting to a @entity458 during a three-year study period. The clinic is associated with a university-affiliated emergency medicine residency program and is staffed by forensic nurses trained to perform medicolegal examinations using colposcopy with nuclear staining. @entity1 demographics, assault characteristics, and injury patterns were recorded using a standardized classification system. Data from the two @entity1 groups (adolescents vs. @entity1 > or =18 years of age) were analyzed using chi-square test and t-test. RESULTS: A total of 766 cases were identified: 43% of the victims were 13 to 17 years old (mean 15.0 years old), and 57% were older than 17 years old (mean 30.8 years old). Adolescents were more likely to be assaulted by an acquaintance or relative (84% vs. 50%, p < 0.001) and to delay medical evaluation (17 hours vs. 12 hours, p < 0.001) than were older @entity1 . Adolescent sexual assault was less likely to involve weapons or physical coercion (29% versus 57%, p < 0.001) and was associated with fewer @entity130 (33% vs. 55%, p < 0.001). Adolescents had a greater frequency of @entity130 (83% vs. 64%, p < 0.001), however, compared with older @entity1 . Common sites of injury in adolescents were posterior, including the fossa navicularis, hymen, fourchette, and labia minora. The injuries showed consistent topologic features, varying with the site and nature of tissue. Adult victims of sexual assault had a less consistent pattern of @entity130 with fewer @entity130 , greater @entity130 , and widespread erythema. CONCLUSIONS: Of @entity1 presenting to an urban @entity458 , 43% were adolescents. The epidemiology of @entity130 in this age group are unique and may pose special challenges to emergency health care providers.
