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Sexual Assault Victims (sexual + assault_victim)
Selected AbstractsAdolescent Foley Catheter Technique for Visualizing Hymenal Injuries in Adolescent Sexual AssaultACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 9 2003Jeffrey S. Jones MD Abstract Objectives: To determine the usefulness of the Foley catheter balloon technique for visualizing injuries of the estrogenized hymen in adolescent sexual assault victims compared with supine labial traction. Methods: A prospective clinical trial of 20 adolescent (age 13,16 years old) victims of sexual assault evaluated at a free-standing Nurse Examiner Clinic was conducted over a four-month study period. The clinic, affiliated with an emergency medicine residency program, is staffed by registered nurses who have been specially trained to perform medicolegal examinations using colposcopy with digital imaging. The Foley catheter technique uses an inflated balloon in the distal vaginal vault to expand the estrogenized hymen to its full capacity so that the edge may be readily visualized for signs of trauma. The Foley technique was compared with gross inspection, using supine labial traction, to photodocument hymenal abnormalities. Photographs of the hymen were obtained using the labial traction technique and then with the Foley technique. Three emergency physicians independently examined each pair of photographs with high interrater agreement for the presence of injury (,= 0.88). Results: Twenty adolescent sexual assault victims volunteered for the study; mean age was 14.8 years. Gross inspection of the hymen using supine labial traction identified hymenal injuries in three patients (15%). Use of the Foley catheter balloon technique allowed identification of hymenal abnormalities in nine additional cases (60%). The common injuries to the hymen included lacerations (30%), followed by ecchymosis and abrasions. One patient (5%) voiced discomfort (mild pressure sensation) during inflation of the balloon. Conclusions: The Foley catheter balloon technique is a simple method allowing improved photodocumentation of hymenal trauma in adolescent sexual assault victims compared with supine labial traction. [source] Sexual assault history, PTSD, and mental health service seeking in a national sample of womenJOURNAL OF COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2002Sarah E. Ullman This study examined correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health service seeking for women sexually assaulted in childhood and/or adulthood (N = 619) identified from the National Comorbidity Survey (1990,1992). Factors related to correlates of PTSD and mental health service seeking varied according to sexual assault history. Ethnic minority women with less formal education, more traumatic and stressful life events, and longer duration of sexual abuse had greater odds of PTSD within certain sexual assault history subgroups. Mental health service seeking was predicted by demographics (e.g., more education, Caucasian race), as well as other psychosocial factors (e.g., life events, social support), and medical insurance status, especially for adult sexual assault victims. Implications for mental health treatment and intervention are drawn for women with different sexual assault histories. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Characteristics of sex-related homicides in AlaskaJOURNAL OF FORENSIC NURSING, Issue 2 2010FNP-C, SANE-A, SANE-P, Tara Henry MSN Abstract The identification and interpretation of anogenital findings postmortem is a critical component of a sex-related homicide investigation. The use of a colposcope to assist in identifying anogenital injuries in living sexual assault victims is well established. The use of a colposcope for postmortem anogenital examination has been briefly mentioned in a few publications, however, no studies were found regarding the types and sites of postmortem anogenital injuries identified with a colposcope in sex-related homicide cases. The purpose of this study was to describe the demographic, physical examination, and victim-suspect relationship characteristics of sex-related homicides in Alaska. Genital findings in living and deceased sexual assault victims in Alaska were compared. Implications: Given the results of this study, postmortem sexual assault examinations should be conducted in all suspected intimate partner homicides. Further implications for forensic nursing practice and recommendations for future research are discussed. [source] A participatory evaluation project to measure SANE nursing practice and adult sexual assault patients' psychological well-beingJOURNAL OF FORENSIC NURSING, Issue 1 2008Rebecca Campbell Ph.D. Abstract This paper describes a collaborative project between a team of researcher-evaluators and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program to develop an evaluation survey of SANE nursing practice and patient psychological well-being. Using a participatory evaluation model, we followed a six-step process to plan and conduct an evaluation of adult sexual assault patients treated in one Midwestern SANE program. Our collaborative team developed a logic model of "empowering care," which we defined as providing healthcare, support, and resources; treating survivors with dignity and respect; believing their stories; helping them re-instate control and choice; and respecting patients' decisions. We created a corresponding survey that can be administered to patients following exam procedures and tested it with N= 52 sexual assault victims. Results indicated that nursing practice was consistent with this empowering care philosophy as the overwhelming majority of patients reported positive psychological well-being outcomes. Implications for evaluating forensic nursing practice are discussed. [source] Responding to sexual assault victims' medical and emotional needs: A national study of the services provided by SANE programsRESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 5 2006Rebecca Campbell Abstract We measured the consistency with which a national random sample of 110 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs provided 17 services to sexual assault victims. SANE programs consistently offered forensic evidence collection, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prophylaxis, information on HIV, information on pregnancy risk, and referrals to community resources. Reasons programs did not routinely offer particular services (e.g., STI cultures, HIV testing/prophylaxis, emergency contraception (EC)) included financial constraints, difficulties balancing medical care with legal prosecution, and affiliations with Catholic hospitals. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 29: 384,398, 2006 [source] Validation Set Correlates of Anogenital Injury after Sexual AssaultACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 3 2008Peter Drocton MD Abstract Objectives:, Forensic investigators remain unsure exactly why some sexual assault victims display acute injury while others do not. This investigation explores potential reasons for these differential findings among female victims. Methods:, This cross-sectional analysis examined data from consecutive female sexual assault victims, at least 12 years old, who agreed to a forensic exam between November 1, 2002, and November 30, 2006. Exams utilized colposcopy, anoscopy, macrodigital imaging, and toluidine blue dye to delineate anogenital injury (AGI), which was defined as the presence of recorded anogenital abrasions, tears, or ecchymosis. Demographic variables of the victim, including sexual experience and reproductive parity, and assault characteristics were recorded in the database for bivariate and multivariate analysis with AGI. Results:, Forty-nine percent of the initial 3,356 patients displayed AGI. Of this total, 2,879 cases included complete data for all variables and were included in the multivariate logistic regression model. A statistically significant increased risk for AGI was noted with: educational status (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% CI = 1.25 to 1.87); vaginal or attempted penetration using penis (OR 2.29, 95% CI = 1.74 to 3.01), finger (OR 1.61, 95% CI = 1.88 to 1.94), or object (OR 3.19, 95% CI = 1.52 to 6.68); anal,penile penetration (OR 2.00, 95% CI = 1.57 to 2.54); alcohol involvement (OR 1.25, 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.50); and virgin status of victim (OR 1.38, 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.71). Victims were less likely to display AGI with a longer postcoital interval (OR 0.50, 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.65) and increased parity (OR 0.76, 95% CI = 0.57 to 0.99). Conclusions:, Approximately half the patients displayed AGI. This rate is higher than earlier studies, but consistent with current investigations utilizing similar injury detection methods. The correlates of injury found reinforce the findings of prior studies, while prompting questions for future study. [source] Healing of hymenal injuries in prepubertal and adolescent girls: a descriptive studyCHILD: CARE, HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 1 2008Richard Reading Healing of hymenal injuries in prepubertal and adolescent girls: a descriptive study . McCannJ., MiyamotoS., BoyleC. & RogersK. ( 2007 ) Pediatrics , 119 , e1094 , e1106 . DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-0964. Objective, The objective of this study was to identify the healing process and outcome of hymenal injuries in prepubertal and adolescent girls. Methods, This multicentre, retrospective project used photographs to document the healing process and outcome of hymenal trauma that was sustained by 239 prepubertal and pubertal girls whose ages ranged from 4 months to 18 years. Results, The injuries that were sustained by the 113 prepubertal girls consisted of 21 accidental or noninflicted injuries, 73 secondary to abuse, and 19 ,unknown cause' injuries. All 126 pubertal adolescents were sexual assault victims. The hymenal injuries healed at various rates and except for the deeper lacerations left no evidence of the previous trauma. Abrasions and ,mild' submucosal haemorrhages disappeared within 3,4 days, whereas ,marked' haemorrhages persisted for 11,15 days. Only petechiae and blood blisters proved to be ,markers' for determining the approximate age of an injury. Petechiae resolved within 48 h in the prepubertal girls and 72 h in the adolescents. A blood blister was detected at 34 days in an adolescent. As lacerations healed, their observed depth became shallower and their configuration smoothed out. Of the girls who sustained ,superficial', ,intermediate,' or ,deep' lacerations, 15 of 18 prepubertal girls had smooth and continuous appearing hymenal rims, whereas 24 of 41 adolescents' hymens had a normal, ,scalloped' appearance and 30 of 34 had no disruption of continuity on healing. The final ,width' of a hymenal rim was dependent on the initial depth of the laceration. No scar tissue formation was observed in either group of girls. Conclusions, The hymenal injuries healed rapidly and except for the more extensive lacerations left no evidence of a previous injury. There were no significant differences in the healing process and the outcome of the hymenal injuries in the 2 groups of girls. [source] | ||||||||||