Sexual Abuses in Amphur Maung, Nakhon Ratchasima Province

Abstract

          Background:    Sexual abuses, especially the rape, are on an increasing rate in Thailand. Unfortunately, most of the cases occurred in the currently educated teenagers who were not matured. The knowledge of the factors that predisposed sexual abuses is important for the planning of preventive management in this population. Objective: To study the predisposing factors for sexual abuses. Patients & Methods: Retrospective study was done by collecting data of sexual abuses cases from 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2007 at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. Result: There were 407 cases of sexual abuses at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. Three hundred and seventy three cases (91.7%) were raped, 324 cases (79.6%) were younger than 18 years old, 179 cases (44%) were younger than 15 years old, 296 cases (72.7%) were undergraduate students, 326 cases (80.1%) occurred at night, 348 cases (85.5%) were caused by one culprit, 62 cases (15.2%) were caused by unknown offenders, 143 cases (35.1%) were associated with alcoholic consumption, and 184 cases (45.2%) occurred within the houses of the offenders. Conclusion: The number of sexual abuses has been increasing and most of the cases were rape cases. Cases happened more commonly in the group of student below 18 years old. The crimes often occurred at night, in the criminals’ places, usually by a single known criminal. One third of the cases were associated with alcoholic consumption.