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Original Article08-29-2022
Sexual Violence Suffered by Women in Early and Late Adolescence: Care Provided and Follow-Up
- Alejandra Suyapa Becerra Torres
, - Ana Luiza Teixeira ,
- Maria Teresa Ferreira Côrtes ,
- Ândria Cléia Alves ,
- Otávio Alabarse , [ ... ],
- Arlete Fernandes
Abstract
Original ArticleSexual Violence Suffered by Women in Early and Late Adolescence: Care Provided and Follow-Up
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2022;44(7):667-677
- Alejandra Suyapa Becerra Torres ,
- Ana Luiza Teixeira ,
- Maria Teresa Ferreira Côrtes ,
- Ândria Cléia Alves ,
- Otávio Alabarse ,
- Renata Cruz Soares de Azevedo ,
- Arlete Fernandes
Views230Abstract
Objective
To compare the sexual violence suffered by women in early and late adolescence, the reactions triggered after the aggression, and the care provided.
Methods
A retrospective study in which we reviewed the medical records of 521 female adolescents treated by a multidisciplinary team at a reference hospital in the city of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed sociodemographic variables, and those pertainin to the characteristics of the episodes of violence, the emergency care, and the physical and psychological reactions observed during the follow-up. For the analysis, the sample was divided into groups of early (10 to 14 years) and late (15 to 18 years) adolescence. We used the Chi-squared/Fisher Exact, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests to compare the groups; the level of significance adopted was 5%.
Results
The early group (n= 242) contained more adolescents who were enrolled in school (p< 0.001), suffered more daytime aggressions (p= 0.031), in their residences (p< 0.001), by an aggressor with whom they were acquainted (p< 0.001), had greater need of legal protection (p= 0.001), and took longer to seek care (p= 0.048). Feelings of guilt, shame, and the perception of violence were similar between the groups. In the late group (n= 279), there was greater consumption of alcohol during the aggression (p= 0,005); they received significantly more prophylaxis treatments; reported more physical symptoms (p= 0.033), sleep disorders (p= 0.003), symptoms of anxiety (p= 0.045), and feelings of anguish (p= 0.011); and had more prescriptions of psychotropics (p= 0.005). Only 52% completed the 6-month follow-up, with no differences between the groups.
Conclusion
The age groups showed differences in the characteristics of the episodes of violence; early adolescents took longer to seek help, and the late group presented more intense symptoms and psychological worsening during the follow-up. Measures of prevention and specific care aimed at this population are needed.
Key-words Adolescenceemergency careMental healthretrospective studysexual assaultSexual violenceWomenSee moreViews230
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Abstract
Original ArticleSexual Violence Suffered by Women in Early and Late Adolescence: Care Provided and Follow-Up
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2022;44(7):667-677
- Alejandra Suyapa Becerra Torres ,
- Ana Luiza Teixeira ,
- Maria Teresa Ferreira Côrtes ,
- Ândria Cléia Alves ,
- Otávio Alabarse ,
- Renata Cruz Soares de Azevedo ,
- Arlete Fernandes
Views230Abstract
Objective
To compare the sexual violence suffered by women in early and late adolescence, the reactions triggered after the aggression, and the care provided.
Methods
A retrospective study in which we reviewed the medical records of 521 female adolescents treated by a multidisciplinary team at a reference hospital in the city of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil. We analyzed sociodemographic variables, and those pertainin to the characteristics of the episodes of violence, the emergency care, and the physical and psychological reactions observed during the follow-up. For the analysis, the sample was divided into groups of early (10 to 14 years) and late (15 to 18 years) adolescence. We used the Chi-squared/Fisher Exact, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests to compare the groups; the level of significance adopted was 5%.
Results
The early group (n= 242) contained more adolescents who were enrolled in school (p< 0.001), suffered more daytime aggressions (p= 0.031), in their residences (p< 0.001), by an aggressor with whom they were acquainted (p< 0.001), had greater need of legal protection (p= 0.001), and took longer to seek care (p= 0.048). Feelings of guilt, shame, and the perception of violence were similar between the groups. In the late group (n= 279), there was greater consumption of alcohol during the aggression (p= 0,005); they received significantly more prophylaxis treatments; reported more physical symptoms (p= 0.033), sleep disorders (p= 0.003), symptoms of anxiety (p= 0.045), and feelings of anguish (p= 0.011); and had more prescriptions of psychotropics (p= 0.005). Only 52% completed the 6-month follow-up, with no differences between the groups.
Conclusion
The age groups showed differences in the characteristics of the episodes of violence; early adolescents took longer to seek help, and the late group presented more intense symptoms and psychological worsening during the follow-up. Measures of prevention and specific care aimed at this population are needed.
Key-words Adolescenceemergency careMental healthretrospective studysexual assaultSexual violenceWomenSee moreThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. - Alejandra Suyapa Becerra Torres
emergency care Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
