Table 1.
Background data and assault characteristics for patients attending a sexual assault centre in Oslo, Norway
| Female | Male | Total | |
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
| Vulnerability factors | |||
| Mental disorder* | 271 (45.0) | 17 (39.5) | 288 (44.7) |
| Previous trauma | 232 (38.5) | 15 (34.9) | 247 (38.3) |
| Substance abuse | 64 (10.6) | 10 (23.3)* | 74 (11.5) |
| Sex work | 12 (2.0) | – | 12 (1.9) |
| Physical/mental disability | 3 (0.5) | 1 (2.3) | 4 (0.6) |
| Resident at institution | 3 (0.5) | – | 3 (0.5) |
| Other | 24 (4.0) | 2 (4.7) | 26 (4.0) |
| No vulnerability factors reported | 229 (38.0) | 18 (41.9) | 247 (38.3) |
| Previous contact with health/social services | |||
| Adult psychiatric outpatient service | 179 (29.7) | 12 (27.9) | 191 (29.6) |
| Child/adolescent psychiatry service | 105 (17.4) | 1 (2.3)* | 106 (16.4) |
| Admitted psychiatric hospital | 45 (7.5) | 3 (7.0) | 48 (7.4) |
| Child welfare service | 45 (7.5) | 1 (2.3) | 46 (7.1) |
| Addiction outpatient service | 35 (5.8) | 7 (16.3)* | 42 (6.5) |
| Crime scene† | |||
| Assailant’s residence | 195 (32.4) | 10 (23.3) | 205 (31.8) |
| Patient’s residence | 121 (20.1) | 7 (16.3) | 128 (19.8) |
| Other person’s residence | 98 (16.3) | 8 (18.6) | 106 (16.4) |
| Public place indoors‡ | 73 (12.1) | 11 (25.6)* | 84 (13.0) |
| Outdoors | 57 (9.5) | –* | 57 (8.8) |
| Vehicle | 25 (4.2) | 3 (7.0) | 28 (4.3) |
| Other/no information | 33 (5.5) | 4 (9.3) | 37 (5.7) |
| Type of assault | |||
| Penetration total | 459 (76.2) | 25 (58.1)* | 484 (75.0) |
| Penetration attempted | 13 (2.2) | 1 (2.3) | 14 (2.2) |
| Penetration suspected | 121 (20.1) | 14 (32.6) | 135 (20.9) |
| No penetration | 9 (1.5) | 3 (7.0)* | 12 (1.9) |
| Penetration in vagina | 460 (76.4) | 1 (0.2)*** | 461 (71.5) |
| Penetration in mouth | 129 (21.4) | 18 (41.9)** | 147 (22.8) |
| Penetration in anus | 94 (15.6) | 26 (60.5)*** | 120 (18.6) |
| Penetration with penis | 438 (72.8) | 26 (60.5) | 464 (71.9) |
| Penetration with fingers | 169 (28.1) | 10 (23.3) | 179 (27.8) |
| Penetration with foreign object | 7 (1.2) | 4 (9.3)** | 11 (1.7) |
| Penetration not further specified | 106 (17.6) | 10 (23.3) | 116 (18.0) |
| Patient had to penetrate other person | 1 (0.2) | 5 (11.6)*** | 6 (0.9) |
| Patient had to execute other sexual action | 67 (11.1) | 15 (34.9)*** | 82 (12.7) |
| Other kind of assault | 26 (4.3) | 5 (11.6)* | 31 (4.8) |
| Amnesia but strong suspicion of assault | 154 (25.6) | 13 (30.2) | 167 (25.9) |
| Injuries sustained§ | |||
| Genital injuries | 140 (23.3) | –*** | 140 (21.7) |
| Anal injuries | 46 (7.6) | 6 (14.0) | 52 (8.1) |
| Oral injuries | 35 (5.8) | 1 (2.3) | 36 (5.6) |
| Total | 602 (100) | 43 (100) | 645 (100) |
Penetration where and with what also registered for cases with attempted or suspected penetration.
Comparisons between sexes: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
*Encompassing personality disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress syndrome, severe anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and a few patients with psychotic disorders.
†More than one crime scene in six cases.
‡Mainly hotels, bars, clubs.
§Mainly minor and few, for example, superficial small tears, ecchymoses and abrasions.