Prevalence and pattern of rape among girls and women attending Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, southeast Nigeria

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence and pattern of rape in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.MethodsA prospective descriptive study was conducted among female survivors of rape who presented at the emergency gynecologic and/or forensic unit of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital between February 2012 and July 2013. Data were collected via a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire.ResultsAmong 1374 gynecologic emergencies, there were 121 (8.8%) rape cases. The mean age of the rape survivors was 13.1 ± 8.1 years. Ninety (74.4%) survivors were younger than 18 years. At least 72 hours had passed since the rape for 74 (61.2%) cases. The perpetrator was known to 74 (82.2%) patients younger than 18 years and 18 (58.1%) aged at least 18 years (P = 0.013). The location of the rape was the bush or an uncompleted building for 36 (29.8%) and the perpetrator’s residence for another 36 (29.8%). Four (3.3%) individuals became pregnant after the rape.ConclusionA considerable proportion of patients with gynecologic emergencies had been raped. Individuals should be encouraged to report to the hospital quickly to prevent unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.