Clinical and Medicolegal Management of Sexually Assaulted Children in Yaounde
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47672/ejhs.1335Keywords:
Sexual assault, children, victims, Yaound, medico-psychological care, medico-legal care, legal supportAbstract
Purpose: Sexual violence against children is ultimately harmful for child's survival, development, and dignity. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and medico-legal management of child victims of sexual violence, 30 years after the first works on the issue.
Methodology: A retrospective multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to May 2020. A consecutive and non-exhaustive recruitment was done. Children aged less than 18 years, admitted for sexual assault in the 04 reference health facilities of the city of Yaound were included. The analysis of the collected data was done using the software: Epi-info â„¢ version 7.2.
Findings: Of the 19187 children received in 5 years in the study's host hospitals, 88 child survivors of sexual assault were identified. The prevalence of sexual assault was 0.45%. About 87 (98.86%) of the victims were female. All 88 (100%) children received medical-surgical treatment of the physical injuries. hjujuyk8care was received by 60 (68.18%) of them. In 46 (52.27%) of the cases, the perpetrators of sexual assault were known to the victims. For 39 (44.31%) of the victims, a report was made. The alleged perpetrator was arrested in 6 cases (6.81%). One of the alleged perpetrators was convicted. In 86 cases (97.72%), the victim was returned to his or her family. One of the victims was placed in a foster home.
Recommendation: It would be useful to optimise the medico-psychological and medico-legal care of child victims of sexual assault and to facilitate their judicial support.
Downloads
References
Learn Without Fear. Campaign Progress Report | Resource Centre [Internet]. [cit 20 sept 2021]. Disponible sur:https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/node/3804/pdf/3812_0.pdf
Menick DM. Ngoh F. [Sexual abuse in children in Cameroon]. Med Trop (Mars). 1998;58 (3):249"‘52.
Koki Ndombo PO. Biyong IF. Eteki Tamba N. Grüselle G. Lantum D. Makang-Ma-Mbog M. [Child victims of sexual abuse in Cameroon]. Ann Pediatr (Paris). fvr 1992;39(2):111"‘4.
Chiabi A. Sama J. Meten E. Tchouamou A. Nolna S. Dongmo F. et al. The Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Sexually Abused Children: A Hospital-Based Study. Asp J Pediatrics Child Health [Internet]. 3 juill 2021 [cit 5 août 2021];3(1):33"‘9. Disponible sur: https://asploro.com/the-epidemiological-and-clinical-profile-of-sexually-abused-children-a-hospital-based-study/
Chiabi A. Sama JD. Meten E. Tchouamou A. Nolna SK. Dongmo FN. et al. The Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Sexually Abused Children: A Hospital-Based Study [Internet]. Asploro Open Access Publications. [cit 20 sept 2021]. Disponible sur: https://asploro.com/the-epidemiological-and-clinical-profile-of-sexually-abused-children-a-hospital-based-study/
Daignault I. Hbert M. Pelletier M. L'influence du système de justice sur le rtablissement d'enfants victimes d'agression sexuelle et suivis dans un centre d'appui aux enfants. crimino [Internet]. 2017 [cit 20 sept 2021];50(1):51"‘75. Disponible sur: https://www.erudit.org/en/journals/crimino/1900-v1-n1-crimino03059/1039796ar/abstract/
Fremy D. Amlioration des soins des mineurs victimes d'agression sexuelle ou de maltraitance : un centre d'accueil et partenariat entre l'hôpital universitaire et l'hôpital psychiatrique. Sante Publique [Internet]. 2003 [cit 20 sept 2021];Vol. 15(HS):179"‘84. Disponible sur: https://www.cairn.info/revue-sante-publique-2003-HS-page-179.htm?contenu=resume
Clinical Study of Rape against Females at the Yaound Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital. Cameroun [Internet]. [cit 20 sept 2021]. Disponible sur: https://www.scirp.org/html/1-1990052_44537.htm
Bourgou S. Meddouri SL. Ben Hamouda A. Ben Mustapha H. Charfi F. Hamza M. et al. Enfants victimes de violences sexuelles en consultation de pdopsychiatrie. L'Encphale [Internet]. juin 2021 [cit 20 sept 2021];47(3):221"‘6. Disponible sur: https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0013700620302001
Mbassa Menick D. [Judicial proceedings involving sexual abuse of minors in Cameroon]. Med Trop (Mars). 2000;60(2):193"‘6.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Mboua Batoum Vronique, Metogo Junie Annick, Ngapout Ngoutane Natacha, Essiben Flix, Nseme Etouckey Eric, Christiane Nsahlai, Epe Jeannette, Koki Ndombo Paul
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
