Introduction
More than half of the word population comprises of women. Women are not safe in the world as well as in India today. Survey of WHO estimate that 10 to 69 per cent of women are physically harmed by male partner. In India large range of sex related crimes take place which are sexual assault, rape, and sexual abuse of children and trafficking of women for the purpose of sexual exploitation.1 Sexual assault includes all form of non-consensual contact with a sexual purpose ranging from eve teasing to molestation to rape.2 Out of all these crime, rape is considered to be the most heinous and gravest form of human right violation. Rape is not only a crime against the women, but also against the whole humanity.1 Medical examination of the victim always play very important role in case of sexual assault. As the offence of rape is committed in privacy and no eye- witness of act may be available, corroboration of the testimony of complainant is sought from medical evidence.3 Although sexual assault is frequently done by man on a woman, it may also involve women and children. Analysis of alleged victims of sexual assault may provide useful information for law enforcement strategies. The main objective of this study was to analysis the data of the victims of sexual assault.
Materials and Methods
A prospective study of 147 cases of alleged victims of sexual assault conducted at MBS Hospital associated with Government medical college Kota, Rajasthan during year 2019 from January to December. This study was based on the victims, brought to the department of forensic medicine MBS hospital Kota with alleged history of sexual assault. Victims those who refused medical examination were not included in this study. The related data was collected from police investigation paper, detail history, and medical examination.
Observations
Total 147 cases of alleged victim of sexual assault were observed. Out of 147 cases 144 (97.5%) cases were of female and three cases were of male child. We found that in four cases no sexual intercourse occurred. Our study showed that 87 cases were unmarried and 52 cases were married. We also observed 6 cases were widow and 2 cases were divorcee (Table 1).
We found that most affected age group of victims was 11 to 20 years of age accounting 69 cases (46.9%) followed by 21 to 30 years of age, 51 cases (34.6%). The 85 victims were related to rural areas and 62 cases belonged to urban areas (Table 2). We observed educational status of victims that 109 victims were literate up to 12th school level (Table 3).
Boyfriend/friends was the commonest accused, 98 cases (66.6%) followed by the neighbour, 18 cases and closed relatives, 9 cases. Out of 9 cases, the age of 6 victims was 16 to 18 years and 3 victims related to more than 18 years. We observed 2 cases, where accused was husband of unnatural sexual assault. Only in two cases the offender was unknown (Table 4).
We found that 50 cases (34%) reported for medical examination within 3 days and 70 cases (47.6%) reported after one week of the incident (Table 5). Out of 147 victims we observed genital and body injuries in 15 cases (about10%). Out of 15 cases genital injuries were observed in 8 cases, body injuries were observed in 7 cases and both genital and body injuries were observed in 5 cases (Table 6).
The 4 cases were found with pregnancy after sexual assault and 11 cases reported with abortion by self-medication. All four cases were belongs to 15- 18 years of age and low educational strata (Table 7).
Table 1
Showing marital status of victims
| Marital status | No. of victims |
| Unmarried | 87 |
| Married | 52 |
| Widow | 06 |
| Divorcee | 02 |
| Total | 147 |
Table 2
Showing age wise distribution of victims
| Age (years) | Rural | Urban | Total |
| <10 | 04 | 00 | 04 |
| 11-20 | 45 | 24 | 69 |
| 21-30 | 26 | 25 | 51 |
| 31-40 | 07 | 11 | 18 |
| >40 | 03 | 02 | 05 |
| Total | 85 | 62 | 147 |
Table 3
Showing educational status of victims
| Educational status | No. of victims |
| Illiterate | 32 |
| Up to 5th | 18 |
| Up to 10th | 25 |
| Up to 12th/student | 34 |
| Up to graduate/ student | 22 |
| Up to post graduate/student | 16 |
| Total | 147 |
Table 4
Showing relation of accused with victim
| Relation of accused | No |
| Friend/ boy friend | 98 |
| Neighbour | 18 |
| Close relatives | 09 |
| Class mate | 07 |
| Co-worker | 05 |
| House owner | 03 |
| Father/step father | 03 |
| Husband | 02 |
| Unknown | 02 |
| Total | 147 |
Table 5
Showing duration reporting of medical examination
Table 6
Showing injuries over victim body
| Age (years) | Genital injury | Body injury |
| < 10 | 02 | 04 |
| 11-20 | 04 | 02 |
| 21-30 | 01 | 00 |
| 31-40 | 01 | 01 |
| >40 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 08 | 07 |
Table 7
Showing conception as a result of sexual assault
| Age (years) | Pregnancy | Abortion |
| <10 | 00 | 00 |
| 11-20 | 04 | 00 |
| 21-30 | 00 | 08 |
| 31-40 | 00 | 03 |
| >40 | 00 | 00 |
| Total | 04 | 11 |
Discussion
National crime record bureau data reveal that rape is increasing throughout India, about 34000 cases and 32500 cases of rape were reported during year 2018 and 2017 respectively. 33707 cases of rape were reported during the year 2013, as against 22172 cases in 2010. 1, 4 The number of cases of rape/ sexual assault could be higher because many victims do not report due to social stigma or fear of being blamed and lack of reporting by government agencies.5
In Our study most common affected age group was 11- 20 years of age 69 cases (46.9%) followed by 21-30 years. In four cases the age of victims was less than 10 years. These all four cases were belonging to rural areas. In Indian scenario the parenting is not good in rural areas and low socio-economic group and frequently children are playing outside home, therefore they are easily targeted for any sex related offence. Out of 69 cases about 60% victims were belonged to 16-18 years of age. Similar findings were also observed by other Indian authors. 6, 7, 8, 9 A study conducted in Bangladesh by Islam M also found that the most common affected victim were the age group of 12-15 years accounting 33.5%. 10 Sharma et al also found that the most common target age group of victims of rape were 15-18 years. 11 Sukul et al 12 found that the age group of 18-30 year was main target group of victims of natural sexual offences.
In this study we observed that 87 victims (about 60%) were unmarried. These findings were consisting with study conducted by R.tamuli et al 5 and M Praveen et al, 13 63% unmarried victims in both studies.
In about 98% cases the accused were known to the victims and in about 80% cases significant relationship was present between the accused and victim. These findings were consisting with other Indian as well as foreign studies. 7, 9, 14, 15 The data released by national crime record bureau in 2017 showed that the accused were known to the victim of sexual assault in 93% cases. These studied prove that women have more danger from their known persons compare to unknown person and also disprove the myth- strangers usually commit sexual violence.
In our study we observed that about 50% cases reported after one week of incidence for medical examination. Only 30% cases reported for medical examination within three days of incidence. In this study we found that in about 70% cases the accused were friend/ boyfriend. So this is explanatory that act of sexual intercourse was consented over a period of time followed by refusal to marry by boyfriend. This study consists with findings of sukul et al 12 and contrary to findings of santos et al 16 found that 61% cases reported for medical examination within three days of incidence. In 08 cases (5.4%) injuries were present on genitals and in 07 cases injuries were present on body. Similar findings were observed by R tamuli et al 5 and higher numbers (31%) were found by santos et al. 16
Present study showed that out of 144 cases (about 10%) 15 victims were pregnant following the act of sexual intercourse, out of these 15 victims about 74% cases had aborted and 26% cases were pregnant at the time of medical examination. Sukul et al 5 observed about 16% cases, R tamuli found about 5% cases and M boonma et al noted 3.2% cases were pregnant after the act of sexual intercourse during offence of sexual assault. 17
Conclusion
Most affected age group of victims was 11 to 20 years of age accounting 69 cases (46.9%) followed by 21 to 30 years of age accounting 51 cases (34.6%). These findings indicated that young women are usually more at risk of offence of sexual assault.
Only in two cases the offender was unknown which states that women have more danger from their known person.
Four victims were observed pregnant at the time of medical examination. All these victims were belongs to 15-18 years of age and low educational strata.
Recommendations
Teaching of gender respect should be an integral part of school education.
Need to develop moral values and ethics among people because majority of sexual assault incidence are committed by known persons.
Need to educate children by family members about sex related offences.
Society needs to create an environment by multidisciplinary approach along with judiciary, NGOs, media, social worker in which sexual violence/assault against women and children will not proliferate.
