title: Sexual victimization: incidence, knowledge and resource use among a population of college women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the incidence of sexual victimization among a convenience sample of college women and evaluate both victims and non-victims' knowledge and use of available on and off campus resources.
  
  
  METHODS
  Written questionnaire distributed to students in lobbies of two campus libraries and large computing center
  
  
  METHODS
  A private northeastern university
  
  
  METHODS
  Upper-class undergraduate women (sophomores, juniors and seniors)
  
  
  METHODS
  Respondents (n=234) were asked to complete demographic information, report instances of sexual victimization (including rape, sexual coercion and unwanted sexual contact) that occurred during the 1999-2000 academic year and indicate whether they would or did use either university and/or outside resources available to sexual assault victims.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the women who participated, 38% (90/234) affirmed one or more episodes of sexual victimization, with 6% (14/234) reporting a completed rape and 4% (9/234) an attempted rape. Drug or alcohol-related impairment leading to unwanted sexual activity was reported by 15% (35/234) of women. Utilization of available on- and off-campus resources was uncommon among victims (22% and 6%, respectively); 12% contacted health services, while only 4% reported an event to university security. Victims cited fear, embarrassment and guilt, as well as lack of confidentiality, as the most common reasons for failure to use resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing campus awareness of sexual victimization and removing barriers to access for victims should remain university goals.
authors.affiliation: Brown University Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Aarti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasta
authors.forename: Brijen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Shoma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brahmanandam
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Richman
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wittels
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Allsworth
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boardman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003068:Coercion; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D016495:Police; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D013333:Student Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities
chemical_list: D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations