[Sexual assault against women-- injury pattern and victim-perpetrator relationship]

Women who have been exposed to sexual assault have the opportunity to consult specialised health service. The Centre for victims of sexual assault at St. Olav University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway, offers emergency medical treatment, psychosocial follow-up and collects evidence in case the victim wants to file a complaint. The aim of this study was to examine whether injury pattern and assault characteristics differed according to the victim's relationship to the perpetrator.

Information about the assaults was collected retrospectively from medical journals of 162 female clients who presented at the centre over the period 1 June 2000 through 31 May 2003. Depending on their relationship with the perpetrator, the victims were categorised into four groups: stranger, accidental acquaintance, acquaintance, or partner. Assault characteristics and injury patterns were compared among these groups.

69 % (111/162) of the victims knew their offender. Accidental acquaintances were reported as perpetrator in 32 (20 %) of the assaults, acquaintances in 68 (42 %), partners in 11 (7 %) and unknown offenders in 29 (18 %). Type and severity of the sexual assaults did not differ significantly according to victim-perpetrator relationship. The most life-threatening violence and use of a weapon were reported used by known offenders only.

In emergency medical response to victims of sexual assaults, it should be made sure that victims, independently of their relationship with perpetrator, are met and treated equally.