Clinical profile of drug-facilitated sexually-assaulted female adolescents at the child protection unit of the Philippine General Hospital from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009

Objective: To determine the clinical profile of drug-facilitated sexually-assaulted (DFSA) females who consulted at the Philippine General Hospital Child Protection Unit (PGH-CPU) between January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009... [ view full abstract ]

Objective: To determine the clinical profile of drug-facilitated sexually-assaulted (DFSA) females who consulted at the Philippine General Hospital Child Protection Unit (PGH-CPU) between January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009
Design: Retrospective Database Review
Setting: Study was done at the PGH-CPU, a child-friendly unit using a multi-disciplinary approach and networking in providing comprehensive medical and psychosocial services to abused children and their families.
Patients/Participants: Female adolescents aged 11-18 years old with history of DFSA, the substance either taken alone or with alcohol.
Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of DFSA, clinical profile of patients. Means and standard deviations were computed at 95% confidence interval.
Results: There were 66 DFSA out of 474 sexual abuse cases among female adolescents 11-18 years old (prevalence rate: 13.9%). Most are 14-16 years old (Mean: 14.9, Standard Deviation: 1.41, 95% C.I.). Mostly come from National Capital Region, majority from Manila comprising 39.39% of consults. Majority of patients belong to the low socio-economic class (81.82%). Patient’s assailants were mostly related to them to the first degree, with assailants being a friend, neighbor, classmate or boyfriend (45.5 %). Alcohol is the most prevalent substance used in sexual assault (89%). Weakness, blackout/loss of consciousness and dizziness are the most common symptoms experienced by patients after intake of substance/alcohol.
Conclusions/Recommendation: DFSA occurs mostly in female adolescents belonging to the low socio-economic class, most of them aged 14-16 years. Alcohol is the most common drug/substance used in sexual assault, however other date-rape drugs are also being used. Standardizing interviews using a questionnaire focusing on symptoms, previous history of drug and alcohol use, and confirming the presence of drugs using routine urine test kits may help in documenting and establishing drug-facilitated sexual assault.

KEY WORDS: drug-facilitated sexual assault, date-rape, alcohol, date-rape drugs, adolescent females