VAW, Law and US!

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Forensic Medicine
• Women's Health
• Child Health

Background:

• Violence against women and children is a significant public health issue with profound health and human rights implications.
• Tertiary referral centers play a crucial role in managing complex cases of sexual assault and violence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the presentation, trends, and management of violence against women and children at a Mumbai tertiary referral center.
• To identify strategies for optimizing the handling of sexual assault cases, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• To assess the impact of increased awareness, legal aid, and integrated services on case reporting and survivor care.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective descriptive case study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 1449 alleged sexual assault cases managed by the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department between January 2015 and December 2019.
• The study setting was a tertiary teaching hospital in Mumbai.

Main Results:

• A total of 1449 alleged sexual assault cases were managed during the study period.
• A consistent increase in sexual assault incidents was observed over the five years.
• Children under 15 years constituted one-third of the survivors; forensic samples were collected in 21% of cases, and counseling by onsite NGOs showed a positive trend.

Conclusions:

• The rising number of cases suggests increased awareness and improved access to services, including NGO collaboration and integrated care.
• Violence against women and children is an epidemic-level public health concern requiring urgent attention.
• Integrating violence and sexual assault issues into healthcare provider training is essential to ensure survivors' rights to accessible, non-discriminatory, and quality healthcare.