These summaries were written by SVPEP staff and are based on original papers published within the last 2 years. The information available on this web site is provided as a public service and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the Arizona Department of Health Services, or the University of Arizona. To conduct an individual search or locate older articles use the Search Summary Database which includes over 600 articles related to sexual violence.

Annan, S. L. (2006). Sexual violence in rural areas. Family & Community Health, 29, 164-168. [Posted October 2007]

Key Points: This review of 11 articles highlights research findings, including the lack of services for rural women as well as higher levels of victim-blaming in rural areas.

Summary: The author reviewed published articles on sexual violence in rural areas in the United States. The emphasis of the studies included prevalence, risk factors, attitudes, and factors affecting reporting and service utilization. Prevalence rates of forced and coerced sexual intercourse varied by study, from 10% to 30% among females, and 5% among males (most studies did not include males). Non-stranger assaults accounted for 78%-100% of all assaults. A major factor contributing to risk and barriers to reporting and accessing services in rural areas was high acquaintance density, making non-stranger assault more likely and confidentiality difficult. For example, victims were likely to know or be related to law enforcement and medical personnel. Physical isolation and lack of resources, such as phone service and transportation, were also identified as risks and barriers. High levels of victim-blaming attitudes were found in rural areas, contributing to victims’ self-blame and stigmatization in their communities. Two studies reported decreased levels of victim-blaming attitudes after educational interventions. Suggested areas for future research include characteristics of rural survivors (e.g., prior victimization, income, and race/ethnicity). Studies should also examine risk factors and the physical and mental health impacts of sexual violence in rural populations.

Limitations: This is a review article.

Topics: underserved populations

Averill, J. B., Padilla, A. O., & Clements, P. T. (2007). Frightened in isolation: Unique considerations for research of sexual assault and interpersonal violence in rural areas. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 3, 42-46. [Posted October 2007]

Key Points: Compared with urban areas, rural areas offer fewer resources and more barriers to care for sexual violence victims.

Summary: Characteristics of rural communities affecting victims’ ability to seek and access response services include lack of telephone service, public transportation, and privacy. Attitudes contributing to barriers include mistrust toward “outsider” interventions (e.g., law enforcement or social service agencies) and acceptance of traditional gender roles. Health and social services tend to be limited in rural areas, and victims must travel long distances to access them or wait a long time for emergency response. Victims may be less aware of services available to them. Existing victim and offender services are often managed by  volunteers from the community, and confidentiality may be compromised. To address these barriers, the authors suggest a collaborative approach involving partnerships between different organizations and agencies, and encourage practitioners to obtain training to improve their ability to work with rural communities.

Limitations: The article focuses on recommendations for forensic nurses.

Topics: underserved populations, victim services

Brown, C. (2008). Gender-role implications on same-sex intimate partner abuse.  Journal of Family Violence, 23, 457-462. [Posted July 2008]
 
Key Points: Sociocultural factors influence how same-sex intimate partner abuse is viewed, studied, reported and treated. 

Summary: The paper explores the effects that gender role socialization and heterosexism have on same-sex abusive relationships and stigma and barriers to reporting abuse.  It summarizes similarities and differences of heterosexual and same-sex couples.  A framework for professionals and issues created by minority stress are also discussed.

Limitations:  Most of the literature reviewed focuses on lesbian couples due to the fact there is little literature regarding IPV among gay men.

Topics: community responses/ attitudes, LGBT, myths/stereotypes, underserved populations

Coker, A. L., Sanderson, M., Cantu, E., Huerta, D., & Fadden, M.K. (2008).  Frequency and types of partner violence among Mexican American college women.  Journal of American College Health, 56, 665-673. [Posted August 2008]
 
Key Points: Partner violence was prevalent among Mexican American women; however, a significant number reported that violence was not a problem in their relationship. 

Summary: Phone interviews were conducted with 149 women who were enrolled as college students near the Texas-Mexico border.  The interviews were structured to assess physical violence (PV), battering, sexual violence (SV), stalking psychological abuse, and lifetime physical violence.  Results indicated that 43% of women experienced some type of PV, 5.1% experienced SV, 19.7% were stalked and 30% experienced psychological abuse.  Co-occurrence of violence was evident among those who reported physical or sexual violence.  The probability of viewing violence as a problem increased with frequency of physical violence.

Limitations:  The sample size was small and women who participated in study may have been more or less likely to experience dating violence.

Topics: college, racial/ethnic differences, stalking, underserved populations

Decker, M. R., Raj, A., & Silverman, J. G. (2007). Sexual violence against adolescent girls: Influences of immigration and acculturation. Violence Against Women, 13, 498-513. [Posted October 2007]

Key points: Immigrant girls are twice as likely to experience recurring (past and present) sexual violence compared with non-immigrant girls. Acculturation (measured by language usually spoken at home) was not associated with sexual violence.

Summary: Researchers looked at data from Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 1999, 2001, and 2003 to identify associations between immigrant status, acculturation, and sexual assault among adolescent girls (N = 5,919). Fifteen percent of girls in the sample had experienced sexual violence (defined as “sexual contact against your will”). Immigrant girls had twice the risk for recurrent sexual violence compared with non-immigrant girls. Compared with the total sample (including other immigrants), immigrant girls aged 15 or younger and Black adolescent immigrant girls were at increased risk for recurrent sexual assault. Although researchers found significant sexual violence risks for all sexually active girls, sexually active immigrant Hispanic girls were at greater risk compared with nonimmigrant sexually active Hispanic girls. Recommendations for further studies included a break down of ethnic identification and country of origin (this study collapsed both); exploring the relationship of the perpetrators and victims; and separating and quantifying measures of consensual and non-consensual sexual activity.

Limitations: Respondents may not have distinguished between having had intercourse voluntarily or through force or coercion, which may have resulted in girls who had only experienced abuse being labeled sexually active. Researchers were unable to identify the relationship of the perpetrator to the victim. Highest-risk adolescents may not have been in school and may not have been represented in the study.

Topics: adolescent/high school, racial/ethnic differences, underserved populations

Eckert, L. O., & Sugar, N. F.  (2008). Older victims of sexual assault:  An underrecognized population.  American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, 198, 688.e1-688.e7. [Posted August 2008]
 
Key Points: Characteristics of assault in the elderly population differ from those of middle aged and younger women.

Summary:  Over a 9 year period, 2,399 women were evaluated after presenting to emergency department after a sexual assault to determine if characteristics of assault differ as women age.  Three different age groups were examined; 20-39 years, 40-55 years, and 55 years of age and older.  Some of the characteristics that varied by age included; location of assault, relationship to perpetrator, number of perpetrators, likelihood of impairment at time of assault, body trauma, and genital trauma.  

Limitations:  The sample only contains women seeking medical treatment from assault.  Underreporting of assault in older age group can be expected due the special needs of the population. 

Topics: elderly, underserved populations, vulnerability

Fife, R. S., Ebersole, C., Bigatti, S., Lane, K. A., & Brunner Huber, L. R. (2008). Assessment of the relationship of demographic and social factors with intimate partner violence (IPV) among Latinas in Indianapolis.  Journal of Women’s Health, 17, 769-775. [Posted September 2008]
 
Key Points: Alcohol use by a woman or her partner was associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) among a sample of Latinas.

Summary: One hundred Latinas (76% from Mexico) who attended health fairs, educational sessions, and community health centers were recruited to complete surveys to examine the prevalence, demographic factors, and behaviors associated with IPV.  This exploratory, cross-sectional study: measured the prevalence of IPV in the Indianapolis Latino population and examined associations between demographic and other characteristics of IPV.  Among the participants, 51% reported some form of IPV.  Some of the forms of abuse that were reported were; yelling (38%), being followed (33%), having to ask permission to do things (18%), harassment (18%), and pushing/shoving/slapping (11%).  Women who reported IPV, 71% reported 1 to 3 forms of abuse.  Alcohol use by the woman or partner was found to be most significantly associated with IPV. 

Limitations:  Sample contained a small number of women in one community, who attended public events, and were willing to speak about IPV.  The sample also had missing data, only 75% answered all questions. An association does not mean that alcohol was the cause of IPV.

Topics: alcohol, racial/ethnic differences, underserved populations

Raj, A., Rose, J., Decker, M. R., Rosengard, C., Hebert, M. R., Stein, M., et al. (2008).  Prevalence and patterns of sexual assault across the life span among incarcerated women.  Violence Against Women, 14, 528-541. [Posted August 2008]

Key Points: Incarcerated women experience different patterns of sexual victimization over a lifetime than the general population.

Summary: This study examined the prevalence of assault across life span and associations with perpetrators in a sample of incarcerated women at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections in 2002 and 2003.  Investigators found that more than half of the women experienced sexual assault during their life span.  This sample was found to be more vulnerable to childhood sexual assault (CSA) by family members and in adulthood by strangers.  Results indicated an association between CSA by family and adulthood assault by friend, stranger and partner.  Prevalence of assault by partners in adolescence was less than rates reported by the general population. 

Limitations: Sample only included women in one correctional facility that were only English speaking.

Topics: prevalence, underserved populations

Wolff, N., Blitz, C., Shi, J., Bachman, R., Siegel, J. (2006). Sexual violence inside prisons: Rates of victimization. Journal of Urban Health, 83, 835-848. [Posted October 2006]

Key Points: Sexual victimization in prisons (including sexual contact and nonconsensual sex acts) occurs most frequently between female inmates.

Summary: To estimate the prevalence of sexual violence in a prison system, male (n=6,964) and female inmates (n=564) in twelve prisons in a small eastern state completed a computer-assisted survey. Inmates were asked about incidents involving abusive sexual contact and non-consensual sex acts by other inmates or by prison staff within the last 6 months. Females reported inmate-on-inmate sexual violence at 212 incidents per 1000 inmates while males reported only 43 incidents per 1000 inmates. Rates of non-consensual sex (inmate on inmate) were 32 per 1000 for women and 15 per for men. Staff-on-inmate sexual victimization rates were the same for men and women (76 per 1000), with men reporting 19 per 1000 incidents of non-consensual sex vs. 17 per 1000 for women. This study had a good response rate (average 39%) from all inmates housed in general population. Because rates of sexual violence varied by the site, future studies should look at factors that can minimize risks. Inmate experiences of trauma and disease from forced sex should be addressed to prevent them from contributing to the ill health of their community when they are released. 

Topics: male rape, prevalence, prison rape; underserved populations

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Updated 09/30/08