Citation

Charlier P, Bou Abdallah F, Brun L, Hoang-Oppermann V, Deo S, Mostefai-Dulac Y, Mamzer MF, Herve C. Ann. Dermatol. Venereol. 2018; 145(3): 178-181.

Vernacular Title

Le mythe du nettoyage par les vierges : actualité d’un archaïsme magico-religieux.

Affiliation

Laboratoire d'éthique médicale et de médecine légale (EA4569), université Paris-Descartes, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75006 Paris, France; CASH & IPES, 203, avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Masson Editeur)

DOI

10.1016/j.annder.2017.10.012

PMID

29221651

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the medical anthropology section of the Nanterre Hospital (France) for migrants and refugees, three cases were recorded of "virgin cleansing" in sub-Saharan African countries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: These consisted of sexual assaults (2 instances of rape and 1 of sexual interference) on sexually immature females (young girls) by patients with sexually transmitted infections (mainly HIV, syphilis) hoping they might thereby be cured.

DISCUSSION: These particularly atrocious hetero-aggressive sexual practices based on magical arguments are unfortunately universal and are not limited to a specific culture. At the medical anthropology level, the belief in cleansing by virgins is based on the notion that the patient is dirty and impure. In the same way that emetics and/or laxatives are prescribed in the case of intestinal disorders (to "eliminate" the disease), some subjects use diuretics for urinary abnormalities or, literally, "clean vaginas (or anuses)" to purge their own miasma. The rising tide of population migrations (some of whom carry chronic infections), refugee camps, prolonged incarcerations, etc., makes observations of such phenomena increasingly frequent. Belief in cleansing by virgins (and the fatal consequences thereof) will be difficult to eradicate. The education of populations and health professionals should promote absolute respect for the body of children, and, more generally, of others, particularly since at this time of increasingly marked migratory flows, this problem sadly risks becoming widespread.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Human trafficking;

Language: fr

Keywords

AIDS; Agression sexuelle; Anthropologie médicale; Forensic medicine; HIV; Infection sexuellement transmissible; Medical anthropology; Médecine légale; Purification par les vierges; Rape; Sexual assault; Sexually transmitted infection; Sida; Syphilis; VIH; Viol; Virgin cleansing