Acute forensic medical procedures used following a sexual assault among treatment-seeking women.
Despite the negative physical and mental health outcomes of sexual assault, a minority of sexually assaulted women seek immediate post-assault medical and legal services. This study identified the number and types of acute forensic medical procedures used by women presenting at a hospital-based urgent care centre between 1997 and 2001 within 72 hours following a reported sexual assault. The study also examined assault and non-assault factors associated with the use of procedures. It was hypothesized that assault characteristics resembling the stereotype of rape would be associated with the use of more procedures. The multiple regression indicated that injury severity, coercion severity, homelessness, and delay in presentation were significantly associated with the number of procedures received. Findings provide partial support for the hypothesis that post-assault procedures would be associated with the stereotype of rape, and highlight homeless women as a group particularly at risk for not receiving adequate medical treatment following a sexual assault.
Dunlap
Hester
H
University of Toronto at Sunnybrook and Women's College of Health Sciences Centre, Room 231, 7th Floor, 252 Bloor Street, West, Toronto, ON, M5S 1V6, Canada. hester_dunlap@camh.net
Brazeau
Paulette
P
Stermac
Lana
L
Addison
Mary
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D049429:Forensic Pathology / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000592:standards*