VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE ADMITTED AT THE MEDICAL LEGAL INSTITUTE OF AFOGADOS DA INGAZEIRA, BRAZIL, IN 2018

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sexual violence is any action in which an individual in a power situation forces another to engage in sexual practice against their will. The Institute of Forensic Medicine (IML) located in Afogados da Ingazeira, Pernambuco, Brazil, was established to perform sexological medical examinations. The objective of this study was to analyse medical forensic reports from victims of sexual violence admitted at the IML in 2018. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a descriptive study, comprising all sexological expert reports from the GDL System of the Regional Unit of the Scientific Police of Afogados da Ingazeira between its foundation in July 2018 and Dec. 31st 2018. RESULTS: From the 17 medical records analyzed, it was established that the average age of the victims was 13 years, most of them female (94%). In two cases (11,76%), the aggressor was unknown, in the other cases, most were from the same family environment as the victm. Thirteen victims considered themselves brown and four claimed to be white. Nine cases occurred in the urban area and eight in the rural area. Approximately 12% of victims reported alcohol consumption before the abuse. As for the characterization of sexual abuse, 35% corresponded to the carnal conjunction. DISCUSSION: In this scenario of a small number of cases, there was a predominance of 88,2% of aggressions perpetrated by the victim’s relatives and acquaintances, which is higher than the rate found in another study carried out in the State of Santa Catarina where there is a predominance of 50,9% of cases of sexual aggression arising from family members and acquaintances. CONCLUSION: Victims of sexual violence are on average young women who declare themselves to be brown, and having a friend or family member as perpetrator.