Seasonal Variation of Sexual Abuse in Santiago de Chile

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Seasonal variations of sexual crime have been seldom studied in the world. Santiago, a city situated at 33 degrees south latitude with a well defined four season climate, has a reliable forensic registry, providing a good opportunity for the assessment of seasonality in this type of crime. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After studying monthly records of sexual abuse from the registry of the Servicio Médico Legal of Santiago between 1990 and 2001, a ratio of observed to expected monthly frequency was obtained, allowing the assessment of the seasonal character of the phenomenon. RESULTS: A total number of 11,844 cases of sexual abuse were recorded during 12 years of the study. Statistically significant differences could be demonstrated between spring and autumn, with a peak in November and a nadir in June. CONCLUSIONS: A distinct seasonal pattern can be set forth for sexual abuse in Santiago, Chile.