BACKGROUND:. Sexual assault involves a wide range of behaviors that involve unwanted sexual contact as in rape. Sexual assault can be classified according to the victim to child sexual abuse, incest, marital rape and male rape. OBJECTIVES: This work aimed at studying the cases of sexual assault in Sohag governorate through 2 years from January 2002 to December 2003. METHODS: The present study was conducted on 40 cases of both sexes who were the victims of alleged sexual assault and were referred to Forensic medicine administration in Sohag governorate.
RESULTS: The cases were 40 in number, 25 cases (62.5%) were females while 15cases (37.5%) were males, They were divided according to the age to 7 age groups ranged from 3 years to about 50 years. As regards level of education of the victims, 16 cases (40%) were educated, 9 of them (22.5%) were females and 7 of them (17.5%) were males. As regards the marital status, 23 of the female cases (57.5%) were single while 2 females (5%) were widows; no married or divorced females were reported. The number of single males was 14 cases (35%) while one male (2.5%) was married. According to the type of the crime, 16 females (40%) were raped (sexual intercourse without consent), 5 cases (12.5%) were adultery, 4cases (10%) were friction. As regards males, 5 cases (12.5) were friction and 10 cases (25%) were sodomy. The assailant was a friend in 13 crimes (32.5%), neighbor in 17 cases (42.5%) and cousin in 10 cases (25%).