Clinical Study of Rape against Females at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Cameroun

Pascal Foumane, Julius Sama Dohbit, Francisca Monebenimp, Bruno Natolga, Esther Ngo Um Meka, Emile Telesphore Mboudou

Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1 Cameroon, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
High Institute of Health Sciences, Université des Montagnes, Bangangté, Cameroon.
Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

DOI: 10.4236/asm.2014.42003                

Abstract

Objective: To describe the clinical and therapeutic aspects of rape against females in a tertiary level hospital, Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a retrolective collection of data, concerning the female patients with a clinical diagnosis of rape received from January 1st 2008 to December 31st 2012. Results: Rape was confirmed at physical examination in 131 cases. The rape victim survivals were mostly aged less than 20 years (85/131; 64.9%), unmarried (127/131; 97.0%), with no income (95/131; 72.5%) and had no university education level (110/131; 83.9%). The aggression commonly took place during the night (68/131; 51.9%), at the victim’s or aggressor’s home (70/131; 53.4%), with physical constraint (73/131; 55.8%), by an unknown aggressor (88/131; 67.2%). A vaginal penetration was reported by 97.0% of the victims (127/131) while 12.2% of them (16/122) had an anal ingress. Condom usage was uncommon during rape (3/131; 2.3%). Vulvar and vaginal lesions were encountered in 32.8% of the cases (43/131). Only 27.5% (36/131) of the victims were prescribed an emergency contraception, while antiretroviral prophylaxis was administered to 46.6% (61/131) of them. Conclusion: These data might be useful for prevention of rape. The clinical management of survival victims of rape needs to be improved.

Keywords

Rape, Victims, Genital Lesions, Vaginal and Anal Penetration, HIV Prophylaxis, Cameroon

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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