INTRODUCTION: From the clinical forensic examination reports produced by the Department of Forensic Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2007 concerning rape, attempted rape and sexual assault (RAS), circumstances were extracted and analysed focussing on age, relationship, lesions, violence, location and alcohol intoxication.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 184 girls and women over the age of 12 years were included in this retrospective study.

RESULTS: The median age of the victims was 20 years (range 12-89 years). 75.5% were under 30 years of age. 53% knew the perpetrator. More than one perpetrator was reported in 11%. 46% of the assaulted victims had a total number of 1-5 observed lesions and these were observed in all types of perpetrator relationship. Eight victims with more than 20 lesions were assaulted by a stranger or an acquaintance (first contact) (ACQ). 50% of the victims who had lesions were assaulted by a stranger or an ACQ. 55% of assaults occurred in private homes. A total of 107 had their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) measured. In all, 133 victims were assessed by the examining doctor to be unaffected by alcohol, eight of these had a BAC exceeding 1.0 per thousand. There was no correlation between the BAC and number of lesions. Two victims had a positive pregnancy test and were pregnant before the RAS.

CONCLUSION: In Denmark, RAS victims' age continues to decrease. RAS by a stranger or an ACQ involves a higher risk of lesions and the possibility of many lesions. More than half of those exposed to manual strangulation or other kinds of violence against the neck were assaulted by a stranger or an ACQ. Half of the women knew the perpetrator and the perpetrator was an ACQ in 26% of the cases.

FUNDING: not relevant.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.