Purpose-The study objectives were to (1) estimate the frequency, prevalence, type, and location of anogenital injury in black and white women after consensual sex and (2) investigate the role of skin color in the detection of injury during the forensic sexual assault examination.Methods-A cross-sectional descriptive design was used with 120 healthy volunteers who underwent a well-controlled forensic examination after consensual sexual intercourse.Results-Fifty-five percent of the sample had at least 1 anogenital injury after consensual intercourse; percentages significantly differed between white (68%) and black (43%) participants (P = .02). Race/ethnicity was a significant predictor of injury prevalence and frequency in the external genitalia but not in the internal genitalia or anus. However, skin color variables-lightness/darkness-, redness/greenness-, and yellowness/blueness-confounded the original relationship between race/ ethnicity and injury occurrence and frequency in the external genitalia, and 1 skin color variableredness/greenness -was significantly associated with injury occurrence and frequency in the internal genitalia.⋆ The study was designed and data were collected when the principal investigator (Marilyn Sommers) was a faculty member at the University of Cincinnati. Previous presentation: Injury prevalence preliminary data on a sub-sample and a review of injury detection methods were presented at a podium presentation at the State of the Science Congress in Washington, DC, in October, 2004 Conclusions-Although differences exist in anogenital injury frequency and prevalence between black and white women, such differences can be more fully explained by variations in skin color rather than race/ethnicity. Clinical recommendations and criminal justice implications are discussed. NIH Public Access

Little is known about the role of skin color in the forensic sexual assault examination. The purpose of this study was to determine whether anogenital injury prevalence and frequency vary by skin color in women after consensual sexual intercourse. The sample consisted of 120 healthy (63 Black, 57 White) women who underwent a forensic sexual assault examination following consensual sexual intercourse. Experienced sexual assault forensic examiners using visual inspection, colposcopy technique with digital imaging, and toluidine blue application documented the number, type, and location of anogenital injuries. Although 55% of the total sample was observed to have at least one anogenital injury of any type following consensual intercourse, the percentages significantly differed for White (68%) and Black (43%) participants (p 0.02). When the presence of anogenital injury was analyzed by specific anatomical region, a significant difference between White and Black participants was only evident for the external genitalia (White = 56%, Black = 24%, p = .003), but not for the internal genitalia (White = 28%, Black = 19%, p = .20) or anus (White = 9%, Black = 10%, p = 0.99). A one standard deviation-unit increase in L* values (lightness) was related to a 150% to 250% increase in the odds of external genitalia injury prevalence (p < 0.001). While Black and White participants had a significantly different genital injury prevalence, dark skin color rather than race was a strong predictor for decreased injury prevalence. Sexual assault forensic examiners, therefore, may not be able to detect injury in women with dark skin as readily as women with light skin, leading to health disparities for women with dark skin.

Sexual assault is considered the silent, violent epidemic. However, many critical care nurses are unaware of the injury patterns that may indicate that their patient has been sexually assaulted. In addition, critical care nurses are often uncertain how to proceed when caring for someone with a suspected sexual assault. This article provides both background information about sexual assault and guidance to critical care nurses on how to manage this difficult situation.

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