title: Sexual violence and reproductive health.
abstract: Sexual violence is a significant public health problem, and has been linked to adverse effects on women's physical and mental health. Although some advances in the research have been made, more scientific exploration is needed to understand the potential association between sexual violence and women's reproductive health, and to identify measures that could be implemented in reproductive health care settings to assist women who have experienced sexual violence. Three general areas needing further study include (1) expansion of the theoretical frameworks and analytic models used in future research, (2) the reproductive health care needs of women who have experienced sexual violence, (3) and intervention strategies that could be implemented most effectively in reproductive health care settings.
authors.affiliation: Tulane School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, and the Louisiana Office of Public Health, New Orleans 70112, USA. pmcmahon@dhh.state.la.us
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Goodwin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stringer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D011247:Pregnancy; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012098:Reproduction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014932:Women's Health Services