In Sweden, sexual assault is increasingly violent

Retain – Sweden, sexual assault increasingly violent

• Severe physical violence in sexual assault increased considerably between 2012 and 2022, with a particularly striking increase in non -fatal strangulation cases from 8.2 % to 24.5 %.
• The study also reveals a significant increase in genital injuries, from 25.2 % to 37.6 %, as well as an increase in blows, from 13.7 % to 21.7 %.

Methodology – Sweden, sexual assault increasingly violent

• An in -depth retrospective analysis was carried out on 1,074 women’s medical records aged 16 to 29 who consulted the emergency clinic for rape victims at the Södersjukhuset in Stockholm hospital, including 299 cases in 2012, 391 in 2017, and 384 in 2022.
• The data was collected via standardized interviews conducted by health professionals specially trained in legal medicine linked to sweden, sexual assault increasingly violent sexual violence, covering the details of the assault within one month after the incident.
• The inclusion criteria required that the victims have retained at least one partial memory of the event, whether in a stable mental and physical state and that they have completed the forensic maintenance.

Main results

• The prevalence of non -fatal strangulation increased significantly, from 8.2 % in 2012 to 24.5 % in 2022, with a odds ratio adjusted [ORa] 2.2 (1.2-3.9) in 2017 and ORA 3.3 (1.9-5.8) in 2022 compared to 2012.
• Assaults involving strangulation were more frequently associated with a domestic environment (ORA 1.8 [1,2-2,8]), to vaginal penetration combined with another sexual act (ORA 2.9 [1,6-5,1]) and the use of contunding force (ORA 5.9 [ 4,0-8,5]).
• Severe physical violence during sexual assault increased significantly, from sweden, sexual assault increasingly violent 15.1 % in 2012 to 28.9 % in 2022 (p <0.001), with a notable increase between 2017 (19.6 %) and 2022 (28.9 %) (p = 0,003).
• Extra-genital injuries increased from 69.2 % in 2012 to 80.1 % in 2022, while genital injuries increased from 25.2 % to 37.6 %, demonstrating an upward trend in physical trauma.

In practice

The #MeToo movement in 2017 drew global attention to sexual violence. Therefore, leading Sweden to revise its legislation in 2018 to demand a verbal or physical explicit consent for any sexual activity. Nevertheless, Despite these efforts. Similarly, sexual assault remains prevalent in young people, with self-declared rates reaching their highest level in 2023 in Swedish women aged 20-24 (26 %) and 16-19 years (17 %). Non -fatal strangulation. a form of mechanical asphyxiation caused by pressure on the neck, represents sweden, sexual assault increasingly violent a form of high -risk physical violence with potentially serious consequences for health. The consequences can range from minor injuries such as bruises. headache and tinnitus to serious outcomes such as laryngeal fractures, strokes and cardiac events. Researchers highlight the importance of understanding the trends in the severity of aggressions over time. especially because of their current long-term effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. According to the authors. ” This study highlights an increase in serious physical violence in sexual assault, involving non -fatal strangulation and an increased presence of genital injuries. The results underline the need for in -depth medical monitoring. representative research on a national level to inform prevention and understand the dynamics of associated violence ».

Main limitations

The results may not be representative of all victims of sexual assault. as the study only includes people who have looked for medical sweden, sexual assault increasingly violent care. The variation in the quality of interviews over time may have influenced the consistency of the reported data. Improving forensic documentation. particularly concerning the nuanced forms of sexual violence, could have contributed to an increase in reports between 2012 and 2022, potentially reflecting improved documentation practices rather than a real increase in incidence.

Funding and interest links

The study was financed by the Karolinska Institute in Health Sciences School (grant number: 2020-026997).

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. The editorial team saw this content before its publication.