Abstract:

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 Yaoundé were included. The analysis of the collected data was done using the software: Epi-info ™ 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.

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