SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VICTIMS OF ALLEGED SEXUAL OFFENCES ATTENDING THE DEPARTMENT OF FORENSIC MEDICINE, SYLHET MAG OSMANI MEDICAL COLLEGE, SYLHET, BANGLADESH

Dr. Kanta Deb, Dr. Siddhartha Shankar Dutta, Dr. Md. Tabibul Islam*, Dr. Tasnuva Aziz Monalisa, Dr. Miftaul Jannat Chowdhury

ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Forensic Medicine, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet, Bangladesh during the period between January 2011 and December 2012 to see socio-demographic profile of the victims of alleged sexual violence. A total 250 victims of alleged sexual assault were brought by the police for medico-legal examinations were included. Majority of the victims belonged to the age group of 11-20 years (59.6%), mostly from lower socio-economic status (60.4%) and unmarried (58.4%). In 34.5% of cases had primary level of education and 24.8% of cases were illiterates. Student (29.2%) and housewife (28.4%) constituted most of the occupation of the victims. Most of the victims were Islam by religion (74.4%). Accused were single in 78.8% and were known to victim in 79.2% of cases. Incident occurred at isolated place (23.2%), accused house (22.0%) and victim’s house (19.2%). In conclusion, unmarried young women of lower socio-economic status are the vulnerable group of alleged sexual assault. The majority of victims are literate and the assailants are known to each other. An understanding of the demography of sexual assault will help in proper attitude and handling of such cases.

Keywords: Sexual assault, Female victims, Medico-Legal, Bangladesh.