OBJECTIVES: to describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of female children and adolescents establishing victims'biological and socio-demographic characteristics, types of violence and intimidation, inflicted wounds and aggressor's profile. METHODS: a cross sectional study based on data from records of 170 patients assisted at the Women Support Service of Agamenon Magalhães Hospital, Recife, Pernambuco, from June 2001 to December, 2002. RESULTS: the median age was 16 years old. The majority of the victims were mulattoes (65.3%) and single (95.9%). One hundred and thirteen subjects did not finish elementary school. For 31,2% family income was under one minimum wage. Sexual aggression represented 64.7% with the genital region being the most injured in 54.4% of the cases. Bruises and haematomas were present in 23,8% of the cases. Seventeen were pregnant at the time of aggression. Perpetrators were unknown (31.7%) and used physical force (79.8%) as a mean of intimidation. Age, income and schooling were not informed and 34.2% had signs of alcohol consumption at the time of aggression. CONCLUSIONS: the subjects of this study were poor, mulattoes, illiterate adolescent girls. The victims of sexual violence suffered genital lesions and did not know their aggressors, who used physical force for intimidation.
Violence; Pediatrics; Adolescent; Child; Epidemiology
