GENITAL INJURIES IN ADOLESCENTS AFTER RAPE

Adolescents constitute the largest group of rape victims. Physiologic theory suggests that injuries may be different in adolescents when compared to adults; however, little is known about genital injuries that adolescents sustain following rape. Previous investigators reported a racial difference in injury prevalence among adult rape victims, with higher injury prevalence among White victims as compared to Black victims. A possible racial difference has not been studied in an adolescent sample. The present study examined the associations among injuries, age, race/ethnicity, and skin color in two groups of female rape victims: adolescents and young adults. The study involved a retrospective review of 234 medical records of women aged 14-29 years old. Over half of the sample was White (56%) and 42.7% was Black. Demographic and injury data were retrieved from medical records and color was quantified through digital image analysis of photographs taken during the examinations. Overall injury prevalence was 62.8%. A series of nested logistic regression and zero-inflated Poisson regression models were conducted. Age was significantly associated with overall injury frequency (Z=6.19, p