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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2022; 44(01): 047-054
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1740474
Original Article
Sexual Violence

Assistance to Victims of Sexual Violence in a Referral Service: A 10-Year Experience

Assistência a vítimas de violência sexual em um serviço de referência: Uma experiência de 10 Anos
Gabriel Ramalho de Jesus 
1   Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Natália Pavoni Rodrigues 
1   Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Giordana Campos Braga 
1   Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Renata Abduch 
1   Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Patricia Pereira dos Santos Melli 
1   Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Geraldo Duarte 
1   Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
,
Silvana Maria Quintana 
1   Gynecology And Obstetrics Department, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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Abstract

Objective To evaluate the assistance provided to women victims of sexual violence and their participation in the follow-up treatment after the traumatic event, presenting a sociodemographic profile, gynecological background, and circumstances of the event, and reporting the results, acceptance, and side effects of prophylaxis for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy.

Methods A retrospective cohort study comprising the period between 2007 and 2016. All women receiving medical care and clinical follow-up after a severe episode of sexual violence were included. Records of domestic violence, male victims, children, and adolescents who reported consensual sexual activity were excluded. The present study included descriptive statistics as frequencies and percentages.

Results A total of 867 medical records were reviewed and 444 cases of sexual violence were included. The age of the victims ranged from 10 to 77 years old, most of them self-declared white, with between 4 and 8 years of education, and denying having a sexual partner. Sexual violence occurred predominantly at night, on public thoroughfare, being committed by an unknown offender. Most victims were assisted at the referral service center within 72 hours after the violence, enabling the recommended prophylaxis. There was high acceptance of antiretroviral therapy (ART), although half of the users reported side effects. Seroconversion to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or to hepatitis B virus (HBV) was not detected in women undergoing prophylaxis.

Conclusion In the present cohort, the profile of victims of sexual violence was low-educated, young, white women. The traumatic event occurred predominantly at night, on public thoroughfare, being committed by an unknown offender. Assistance within the first 72 hours after sexual violence enables the healthcare center to provide prophylactic interventions against STIs and unwanted pregnancies.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar a assistência prestada às mulheres vítimas de violência sexual e seu acompanhamento após o evento traumático, caracterizando o perfil sociodemográfico, antecedentes ginecológicos e circunstâncias do evento, além de relatar a aceitação e os efeitos colaterais da profilaxia para infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (ISTs) e a ocorrência de gravidez resultante da violência sexual.

Métodos Estudo de coorte retrospectivo compreendendo o período entre 2007 e 2016. Foram incluídas todas as mulheres em acompanhamento médico e clínico após episódio de violência sexual. Foram excluídos registros de violência doméstica, vítimas do sexo masculino e crianças e adolescentes que relataram atividade sexual consensual. O estudo incluiu estatísticas descritivas, com frequências e percentuais.

Resultados Foram revisados 867 prontuários e 444 casos de violência sexual foram incluídos. A faixa etária foi 10 a 77 anos; a maioria das vítimas se autodeclarou branca, com entre 4 e 8 anos de escolaridade, e negou ter um parceiro sexual fixo. A violência sexual ocorreu predominantemente à noite, em via pública, por um agressor desconhecido. A maioria foi atendida no serviço de referência em até 72 horas após a violência, possibilitando profilaxias preconizadas. Houve alta aceitação da terapia antirretroviral (TARV), embora metade das usuárias relatasse efeitos colaterais. A soroconversão para o vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV, na sigla em inglês) ou para o vírus da hepatite B (HBV, na sigla em inglês) não foi detectada entre as vítimas.

Conclusão Nesta coorte, o perfil das vítimas de violência sexual foi de mulheres brancas, de baixa escolaridade, e jovens. O evento traumático ocorreu predominantemente à noite, em via pública, por um agressor desconhecido. A assistência nas primeiras 72 horas após a violência sexual permite que o serviço de saúde realize intervenções profiláticas contra ISTs e gravidez indesejada.

Keywords

sex offenses - rape - sexually transmitted diseases - violence against women - pregnancy unwanted

Palavras-chave

delitos sexuais - estupro - doenças sexualmente transmissíveis - violência contra a mulher - gravidez não desejada

Contributors

All authors contributed with the project and data interpretation, the writing of the article, the critical review of the intellectual content, and with the final approval of the version to be published.




Publication History

Received: 10 April 2021

Accepted: 30 August 2021

Article published online:
29 January 2022

© 2022. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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