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Annie Vesterby Charles

Publications and source records attributed to Annie Vesterby Charles.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Forensic examination of children subjected to sexual abuse].

A forensic medical examination of a child in a case of suspected sexual abuse can have important implications for both the legal outcome and the persons involved. Therefore, it is important to know how to interpret physical findings and how to document these findings in a report. Knowledge of anogenital findings in sexually abused children has increased since the introduction of the colposcope and has revealed that physical findings are seldom found, even in legally documented cases of sexual abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in sexually abused children in Jutland].

INTRODUCTION: At the Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Aarhus, Denmark, examinations are performed of children who are suspected of having been sexually abused. The medical forensic investigation aims at documenting sexual abuse if there are any physical findings. The presence of certain sexually transmitted diseases, which cannot be explained otherwise, may be such documentation. This article focuses on Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and the risk for the sexually abused child to contract these diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospectively, we went through the Institute's files from 1996 to 2000 concerning child abuse. Information about age, sex, cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis and for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and the results of these cultures was registered. If the child had been cultured, the suspected perpetrator's age and gender were registered as well. The children were all between 0 and 15 years of age, and in all cases the suspicion of sexual abuse had led to reporting to the police. RESULTS: 295 girls and 41 boys were examined in the period from 1996 to 2000. A total of 100 cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis and 105 cultures for Neisseria gonorrhoeae were performed. Among the 111 children who were examined for Chlamydia trachomatis and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae there were no positive results. In 102 cases the suspected perpetrator was known to be one or more men, and only in one case it was a women. The mean age of the suspected perpetrators was 35.4 years. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis should reflect the prevalence in the group of perpetrators. Neisseria gonorrhoeae is uncommon outside Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, whereas Chlamydia trachomatis is quite common. On this background, we had expected some of the children to be infected with Chlamydia trachomatis. Therefore, the risk for sexually abused children to be infected with Chlamydia trachomatis or Neisseria gonorrhoeae is very low, depending on the kind of abuse and the perpetrator's possible risk behaviour, age, and gender. As a conclusion, only children with a clear indication should be tested for these sexually transmitted diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Violence in Aarhus over two decades].

INTRODUCTION: Data collected from hospitals and the police have on several occasions proved to be useful in gaining knowledge about violence. The casualty departments, the Institute of Forensic Medicine, and the police in Aarhus have co-operated in three earlier studies of inter-person violence, the latest in 1993-1994. The aim of this study was to update knowledge about the incidence and character of violence in Aarhus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A dynamic cohort study was carried out in the period 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000. Persons who arrived at the casualty wards or Institute of Forensic Medicine after having been exposed to violence were registered and interviewed. Data from the police were also collected. All results were compared to corresponding data collected in 1981-1982, 1987-1988, and 1993-1994. RESULTS: The number of victims decreased significantly to 1496. The annual incidence rate dropped to 4.6 victims/1000. This decrease in violence was particularly seen among 15-24-year-old males. The extent of violence against women remained unchanged in the years 1999-2000. Foreigners were significantly higher represented among the victims. The character and severity of the violence were unchanged. DISCUSSION: Similar findings with an overall decrease in the incidence of violence and, at the same time, an increase in violence among foreigners have been reported in studies from Norway and Britain. Preventive action should be considered in the groups of 15-24-year-old males and foreigners.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Two decades of violence. A cohort study from the Danish municipality of Aarhus.

INTRODUCTION: Data collected from hospitals and the police has on several occasions proved to be useful in gaining knowledge about violence. The two casualty departments, Institute of Forensic Medicine and the police in Aarhus have co-operated in three earlier studies about interpersonal violence, the latest in 1993-1994. The purpose of this recent study is to reveal updated information about the incidence and character of violence in Aarhus. METHODOLOGY: Dynamic cohort study during the period the 1st of April 1999 to the 31st of March 2000. Persons who after having been exposed to violence arrived at the casualty wards and Institute of Forensic Medicine were registered and interviewed. Also data from the police was collected. All results were compared to corresponding data collected from equally conducted studies in 1981-1982, 1987-1988, and 1993-1994. RESULTS: The number of victims significantly decreased to 1496. The annual incidence rate decreased to 4.6 victims/1000. The decrease in violence was particularly among the 15-24 year old males. The extent of violence against women remained unchanged in 1999-2000. Foreigners were significantly higher represented among victims. The character and severity of violence were unchanged. CONCLUSION: Similar findings with overall decreasing incidence of violence, and on the other hand increasing violence among foreigners have been found in similar studies from Norway and England. Preventive actions should be regarded against the 15-24 year old males and foreigners.

Adolescent↗