Circumstances affecting women’s vulnerability to sexual offence as reported in a tertiary level health care institute of a metro city in India

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of sexual offence against women are increasing all over the world. The circumstances which predispose a woman to become a victim of these incidences are multiple. Perpetrators take advantage of these circumstances to commit sexual offence. Understanding these circumstances is essential to prevent sexual offence against women.Objectives: This study attempts to find out the circumstances under which victims of sexual offence fall prey to the perpetrators. Methods: This Observational Descriptive study was conducted at the Upgraded Department of Forensic and State Medicine, Medical College, Kolkata, for a period of one year among all the victims of sexual offence reported for medical examination. Results:The study reveals63% of the victims are in their life course of adolescence and young adulthood (15-25 years), only 4% of them belong to upper socio-economic status as per Prasad’s Scale, modified for 2013, 78% of the study population have not passed any board examination. Poverty and support to family (30%) and promise of marriage (27%) are two most common circumstances affecting women’s vulnerability to sexual offence, In both these circumstances majority of them are in their adolescence and young adulthood (15-25 years), not passed any board examination and from the middle and lower socioeconomic status (Level II,III,IV & V of B G Prasad’s Scale).