Female injuries of medico-legal significance examined at the Accidents and Emergency Department of Central Hospital Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: To study the profile of female injuries of medico-legal significance attended to in Central hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive retrospective study of 3432 cases of medico-legal significance attended to in Accidents and Emergency unit of Central hospital, Benin City between 1st January 2012 and December 31st 2014. The age of the patients, causes of injuries and clinical outcome were analyzed using SPSS version 21 and presented in tables and charts

Results: Physical assault, sexual violence, road traffic accident and burns injury accounted for 63.05%, 23.78% ,10.29% and 1.78% of the cases respectively. The peak age of the victims was generally in the 3^rd decade while there is heightened vulnerability for sexual violence in the first two decades. Twenty percent of the cases required hospitalization.

Conclusion: Majority of cases was as a result of physical and sexual violence and is fuelled by gender inequality and our patriarchal society structure. Public education and policy action from government is pivotal to reversing this trend

Keywords: Female, Injuries, Medicol-Legal, Physical and Sexual Abuse, Gender Inequality