Spectrum of Self-Reported Childhood Sexual Abuse Among Medical Students: A Single Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence and spectrum of self-reported childhood sexual abuse (CSA) in a sample of medical students from a medical college in Southern India.

METHODS

A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to consenting students of a medical college located at Puducherry. Those students who could not be contacted despite three attempts were excluded.

RESULTS

Of total 452 students, 148 (32.7%) students reported experiencing one or other form of CSA. Prevalence of CSA was almost equal in both the sexes. Most instances of CSA occurred either at own house (33.8%) or at a neighbor's house (22.9%). Majority (60.1%) did not inform anyone; due to fear of negative consequences (43.2%) and feelings of guilt (30.4%) most commonly.

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately one third of medical students reported an incident of sexual abuse at least once in his/her life. Both girls and boys are equally likely to face CSA.