Indicators of childhood sexual abuse in gynaecological patients in a general practice

Abstract

Objective - To find indicators of a history of childhood sexual abuse in patients consulting for a gynaecological examination in a general practice.

Design - Semistructured interview after a consultation.

Setting - General practice in the city of Oslo, Norway.

Participants - Of 117 women aged 20–49 with a gynaeco- logical problem, 85 were interviewed.

Main outcome measure - History of childhood sexual abuse.

Results - 24 (28%) of 85 women interviewed by their female GP when consulting for a gynaecological problem reported childhood sexual abuse. In total they reported 32 abusive events, quite different as to the type of assault, the relation to the offender, and the duration. A history of pelvic pain or gynaecological surgery showed a significant association with reported childhood sexual abuse with odds ratios of 4.0 (CI 1.0–15.8) and 4.1 (CI 1.0–17.0), respectively. As adverse sexual experiences may lead to somatization as a coping strategy, certain findings might be indicators of unknown childhood sexual abuse in patients presenting for gynaecological disorders.

Conclusion - A history of pelvic pain and gynaecological surgery may be indicators of sexual abuse in childhood.

Key Words:

• general practice
• childhood sexual abuse
• pelvic pain
• gynaecological surgery