Sexual assault on female subject is a global health and human rights issue. The problem has legal as well as health related bearing. Female victims, often young girls are the worst sufferers of crimes like rape, kidnapping and trafficking. These have both short and long term effects on the mental health of the victims. In the present series psychiatric assessment of 42 victims of sexual assault was undertaken to analyze the gravity of the problem, the inherent risk factors and health related outcome of the serious offence. Epidemiological pattern, the strategy for prevention is discussed.
Sexual assault, victims, psychiatric morbidity, depression & trauma
