Sexual violence in Cotonou : medico-legal, therapeutic and prognostic aspects

Abstract

Introduction: The clinical examination and treatment of the victim of sexual violence is specific and poses a medico-legal problem.
Objective: To describe the medico-legal and therapeutic aspects of sexual violence in Cotonou. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study, with retrospective data collection between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2022 in Cotonou. The victim of sexual violence as defined by the WHO was studied. Results: Victims of sexual violence had an average age of 14 years and 81% were between 10 and 19 years old. The consultation was carried out late in 92.7% of cases. Sexual violence was isolated in 99.2% (n=508) and associated with physical abuse in 0.8% (n=4). Lesions were vulvoperineal in 18% (n=39) of cases and hymeneal  in 70.3% (n=360) of cases. Violence was the cause of pregnancy in 10.5% (n=56) of cases, sexual violence resulted in pregnancy. Treatment was forensic in 85% of cases. Conclusion: adolescent girls were the main target of sexual violence in Cotonou. The consultation was carried out late and the lessions were genital and physical. The treatment was medico-legal.