Evaluation of cases undergoing colposcopy-assisted sexual assault examination in the department of forensic Medicine Necmettin Erbakan University Meram school of Medicine between 2015-2021

Aim: In this cross-sectional study, the sociodemographic characteristics, examination findings, and colposcopic macroscopic findings obtained during the evaluation of cases referred for examination to the Department of Forensic Medicine of Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty between February 2015 and December 2021, due to allegations of sexual assault/abuse or harassment, were discussed in the context of the literature and their legal dimensions. Method: In the study, 430 cases referred to our department for examination due to allegations/suspicions of sexual assault, child sexual abuse, or harassment were included, while 4 cases who refused to undergo a sexual examination were excluded from the study. Nine of the 426 cases who underwent a sexual examination were examined twice at different times due to different incidents, and one case was examined three times at different times due to different incidents, and they were evaluated as separate cases. Data were analyzed using statistical software. Findings: Of the cases, 78.7% (n=344) were female, and 21.3% (n=93) were male, 64.2% (n=221) of females and 92.5% (n=86) of males were single, the mean age of the cases was 20.87±11.43, 25% (n=86) of female cases and 65.6% (n=61) of male cases were under 15 years old, 93.8% (n=410) were referred for examination at the investigation stage, and 38.7% (n=169) came for examination within 2-10 days after the alleged incident. The person(s) involved in the alleged incident were identified as an acquaintance by 33.7% (n=116) of female cases and 61.3% (n=57) of male cases. 92.2% (n=317) of female cases and 97.8% (n=91) of male cases had no history of substance use before the alleged incident. It was determined that 72.3% (n=316) of cases, mostly reported sexual assault/abuse involving the insertion of an object or other foreign body into the body. Conclusion: Sexual assault, child sexual abuse or harassment allegations are important public health problems from forensic, social and medical perspective. Internal and external body examination, sample collection are of great importance in clarifying allegations of sexual assault/abuse and directing and concluding the legal process correctly. Keywords: Child sexual abuse, sexual assault, incest