Prevalence and sequelae of sexual torture.

283 torture victims (135 examined by the Amnesty International [AI] Danish Medical Group, and 148 by the International Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims [RCT]) were questioned about methods of torture and subsequent sexual difficulties. Overall, the prevalence of sexual torture was 61% (women 80%, men 56%), but this was higher in the RCT than in the AI group. More Latin Americans than Europeans had been sexually tortured in the AI group. Prevalence of sexual difficulties was 32%, the RCT recording a significantly higher prevalence than the AI (43% vs 20%). Sexually tortured victims were more likely to have sexual difficulties (40%) than were non-sexually tortured victims (19%). Overall, there were more cases of sexual difficulties in victims from Africa and from Turkey/Middle East/Far East than in victims from Latin America and from Europe. In the RCT subsample, prevalence of sexual difficulties and anxiety was significantly higher in sexually tortured victims than in non-sexually tortured victims; the two groups were broadly similar with respect to depression and low self-esteem. Depressed victims and victims with low self-esteem were more likely to have sexual difficulties. In the RCT group, but not overall, prevalence of sexual difficulties was significantly associated with age but was independent of low self-esteem and of depression.