Edmilson Ozorio Dos Santos, Andrey Wellington Moscardini, Ivan Dieb Miziara
{"title":"A comprehensive epidemiological assessment of female rape in São Paulo State, Brazil: trends, patterns, and implications for public health.","authors":"Edmilson Ozorio Dos Santos, Andrey Wellington Moscardini, Ivan Dieb Miziara","doi":"10.1007/s00414-024-03354-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sexual violence against women remains a global challenge, with Brazil exemplifying persistent issues despite legislative advancements. This study examined sexual violence within São Paulo state, Brazil's largest and economically affluent state, focusing on prevalence, patterns, forensic evidence, and health consequences. We analyzed 40,757 medical reports of alleged cases of rape against women available from the São Paulo Medical Legal Institute from 2014 to 2017. An increase in female rape cases was observed, reflecting broader societal trends, but underreporting, prevalent due to fear and stigma, underscored the need for multifaceted interventions. We also explored correlations between rape prevalence and the Human Development Index, highlighting disparities between urban and rural areas. Additionally, the study revealed concerning proportions of cases involving vulnerable victims, emphasizing the imperative for tailored interventions and legislative reforms. Furthermore, we demonstrated that only a small portion of medicolegal examinations were able to find evidence of sexual violence or recent sexual acts, necessary for conducting the criminal investigation of the alleged act. Therefore, despite challenges in forensic evidence collection, efforts to enhance medical examination protocols and awareness among professionals are crucial. Moreover, findings underscored the significant health consequences of rape, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, necessitating comprehensive healthcare services for survivors. In conclusion, we reinforced that addressing sexual violence demands coordinated action, including legislative reforms, community engagement, and survivor-centered approaches, to create safer and more resilient communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":14071,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Legal Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00414-024-03354-5","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MEDICINE, LEGAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Sexual violence against women remains a global challenge, with Brazil exemplifying persistent issues despite legislative advancements. This study examined sexual violence within São Paulo state, Brazil's largest and economically affluent state, focusing on prevalence, patterns, forensic evidence, and health consequences. We analyzed 40,757 medical reports of alleged cases of rape against women available from the São Paulo Medical Legal Institute from 2014 to 2017. An increase in female rape cases was observed, reflecting broader societal trends, but underreporting, prevalent due to fear and stigma, underscored the need for multifaceted interventions. We also explored correlations between rape prevalence and the Human Development Index, highlighting disparities between urban and rural areas. Additionally, the study revealed concerning proportions of cases involving vulnerable victims, emphasizing the imperative for tailored interventions and legislative reforms. Furthermore, we demonstrated that only a small portion of medicolegal examinations were able to find evidence of sexual violence or recent sexual acts, necessary for conducting the criminal investigation of the alleged act. Therefore, despite challenges in forensic evidence collection, efforts to enhance medical examination protocols and awareness among professionals are crucial. Moreover, findings underscored the significant health consequences of rape, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, necessitating comprehensive healthcare services for survivors. In conclusion, we reinforced that addressing sexual violence demands coordinated action, including legislative reforms, community engagement, and survivor-centered approaches, to create safer and more resilient communities.
期刊介绍:
The International Journal of Legal Medicine aims to improve the scientific resources used in the elucidation of crime and related forensic applications at a high level of evidential proof. The journal offers review articles tracing development in specific areas, with up-to-date analysis; original articles discussing significant recent research results; case reports describing interesting and exceptional examples; population data; letters to the editors; and technical notes, which appear in a section originally created for rapid publication of data in the dynamic field of DNA analysis.