Type:	Journal Article
Title:	The epidemiology of female rape victims who seek immediate medical care: temporal trends in the incidence of sexual assault and acquaintance rape
Other Titles:	Journal of interpersonal violence
Authors:	Jenny, Carole Magid, David J Houry, Debra Koepsell, Thomas D Ziller, Andrew Soules, Michael R
Keywords:	Sexual assault;Dating violence;Statistics;Health
Topic:	Sexual violence
Year:	2004
Publisher:	Sage Publications
Citation:	19 (1), January 2004
Notes:	This article reported the comparison of incidence of sexual assault presented at emergency care during July to November of 1974 and 1991 in a single United States county. The aim was to use emergency department data to evaluate the temporal trends in rape incidence in a single US county, and to compare victims and assault characteristics for adult female sexual assault victims who approached emergency medical care. Physicians used standardised forms to collect data. The study found a 60% increase in the incidence of sexual assault victims presenting for emergency care in 1991 compared to 1974, due to an increase in the incidence of women willing to present for emergency care after rapes by known assailants rather than an actual increase in the incidence of acquaintance rape. The annual incidence of reported stranger assaults was similar in the 2 years compared. It also noted a higher rate of reported use of physical force by the assailant and higher rates of bodily trauma for rape victims in 1991. An understanding of the epidemiology of sexual assault may be helpful to the medical professionals who treat rape victims and to the public health officials who develop prevention programmes.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12384
ISSN:	0886-2605
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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