TITLE:
Sexual Abuse of Minors in a West African Urban Setting: Epidemiological Profile, Clinical Features, and Management at Gaspard Kamara Health Center, Senegal
AUTHORS:
Astou Coly Niassy, Babacar Biaye, Salif Diallo, Fatimata Bintou Sall, Ndeye Sokhna Dia, Rahadat Ibrahim, Moussa Diallo, Marieme Ba Gueye
KEYWORDS:
Sexual Abuse, Minors, Adolescents, Medico-Legal Care, Senegal, Sub-Saharan Africa
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.15 No.9,
September
12,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Sexual abuse of minors is a major public health and human rights concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where underreporting remains frequent due to cultural taboos and limited medico-legal services. In Senegal, few studies have systematically documented the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of sexual abuse in health facilities. Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile, clinical and paraclinical features, and management of minors who were victims of sexual abuse at the Gaspard Kamara Health Center in Dakar, Senegal, over a five-year period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical study from January 2019 to June 2024. The study population included all female patients under 18 years presenting with suspected or confirmed sexual abuse. Data were collected from standardized medical and medico-legal records and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with a significance threshold of p Results: A total of 147 cases of sexual abuse were recorded, of which 104 (70.7%) involved minors. The mean age was 13.8 ± 2.4 years, with the 12 - 15-year group being the most represented (58.6%). Most victims were unmarried schoolgirls residing in urban districts. The assaults primarily occurred at the perpetrator’s home (44.0%) and during the afternoon (38.7%), with a single aggressor in 83.3% of cases. Clinical findings included old hymenal tears (49.4%), recent tears (16.5%), and extra-genital injuries (21.1%). Serological testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B/C was performed in 98.9% of cases; pregnancy was detected in 2.9%. Management included antibiotic prophylaxis or treatment (75.3%), emergency contraception (34.7%), HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (22.1%), and medico-legal certification (96.1%). Only 10.1% of victims received structured psychological support. Conclusion: Sexual abuse of minors at Gaspard Kamara Health Center predominantly affects adolescent schoolgirls aged 12 - 15 years, often occurring in domestic settings and perpetrated by non-familial males. While medico-legal certification and STI screening were consistently provided, significant gaps remain in psychological care and post-exposure prophylaxis. Addressing these shortcomings requires a multidisciplinary approach and strengthened intersectoral collaboration to ensure comprehensive care and protection for victims.