Changes in the profile of women victims of sexual violence in a South Brazil Capital

Abstract

Introduction: The profile of women who are victims of sexual violence must be known to develop preventive measures.
Objectives: To evaluate the epidemiological profile and the application of the care protocol for women victims of sexual violence in the cases admitted at Hospital Universitário Evangélico Mackenzie (HUEM) in Curitiba-PR.
Methodology: Data from the Interpersonal / Self-harmed Violence Sheet of women aged 12 years and over, received at the HUEM care service for victims of sexual violence in Curitiba-PR, were evaluated between January 2015 and December 2018. Socio-demographic data on the victim, on the occurrence itself, clinical and laboratory, on the likely perpetrator of the violence and on the return to service were sought.
Main results: 252 victims of sexual violence were studied. In the period, the age of the victims in the years 2015 and 2016 (median of 19 years) in relation to the years 2017 and 2018 (median of 17 years) decreased significantly (p = 0.026). Education level did not influence sexual violence (p = 0.64) and being single conferred greater risk (p <0.0001; OR = 16.1). Night hours had greater risk (p <0.0001; OR = 3.5). Among victims aged between 12 and 18 years, 63.6% of known aggressors and in those over 18 years of age, 70.8% of aggressors are unknown (p
<0.0001). It was observed that 46% of the victims did not return for any of the scheduled consultations and only 1.6% fulfilled the follow-up protocol.
Conclusion: During the studied period, the significant reduction in age pointed to a change in the demographic profile of women victims of sexual violence. Even in a referral service, the rate of return is still very low and actions are needed to increase adherence to the protocol.