Sexually transmitted infections among women attending a Norwegian Sexual Assault Centre

• Published in: Sexually transmitted infections Vol. 90; no. 4; pp. 283 - 289
• Main Authors: Hagemann, Cecilie Therese, Nordbø, Svein Arne, Myhre, Arne Kristian, Ormstad, Kari, Schei, Berit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group 01.06.2014; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Blood-Borne Pathogens; Chemoprevention - utilization; Chlamydia; Chlamydia Infections - epidemiology; Chlamydia Infections - prevention & control; Cohort Studies; Crime Victims - statistics & numerical data; Data collection; Disease prevention; Drug abuse; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; General aspects; Gonorrhea; Gonorrhea - epidemiology; Gonorrhea - prevention & control; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B - prevention & control; Hepatitis C - epidemiology; Hepatitis C - prevention & control; Herpes Simplex - epidemiology; Herpes Simplex - prevention & control; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Humans; Infections; Infectious diseases; Logistic Models; Medical sciences; Norway - epidemiology; Patients; Prevalence; Rape; Retrospective Studies; Serology; Sex crimes; Sex Offenses; Sexually transmitted diseases; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - epidemiology; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control; Sexually Transmitted Diseases - transmission; STD; Virus Diseases - epidemiology; Virus Diseases - prevention & control; Young Adult; Norway; Europe; Human; Infection; Sexually transmitted disease; Female; Sexual abuse; Victimology; Woman; HEPATITIS B; WOMEN; HEPATITIS C; SEXUAL ASSAULT; SEXUAL HEALTH
• ISSN: 1368-4973; 1472-3263
• DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2013-051328

Objectives The objective was to describe the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and blood-borne viruses (BBV), and prophylactic treatment offered to female postpubertal patients attending a Norwegian Sexual Assault Centre (SAC). We wanted to evaluate whether STIs diagnosed at the initial visit could have been assault-transmitted, and to explore whether background and assault characteristics were associated with diagnosed STI/BBV. Methods We included postpubertal females ≥12 years of age attending the SAC within 1 week of the assault. Data were collected from records. We conducted a retrospective, descriptive study, and used logistic regression analysis. Results Among 412 patients with a median age of 21 years, 35 patients had an STI (8.5%), two of which probably were assault-transmitted. Chlamydia trachomatis was the dominating agent, detected in 25 patients (6.4%). At serology screening, 3.7% tested positive for hepatitis C and/or hepatitis B core antibody. Patient age 16–19 years was associated with STI, while BBV positives were older. Non-Western assailant was associated with STI, while substance abuse was associated with STI and BBV. In order to prevent potential transmission of STI not identified at the initial visit, 91% accepted prophylaxis against bacterial STI, while antiviral prophylaxis was offered to less than one-fifth of the patients. Conclusions The C trachomatis prevalence among the sexual assault patients was lower than in a comparable clinical population. The STI was suspected to be assault-transmitted in only two cases.