title: The experience of sexual assault: findings from a statewide victim needs assessment.
abstract: A statewide assessment was conducted of assaults, experiences, needs, and recommendations of 125 adult victims receiving care at 19 sexual assault centers (SACs) in the State of Maryland. More than one half of the victims (55.6%) waited years before disclosing, with delays in reporting especially likely if the assault was perpetrated by a family member (the most frequent perpetrators at 42.4% of respondents). About one half of the victims (51.3%) had been previously sexually assaulted, yet only 9% of these victims had sought treatment. The majority of respondents (69.4%) indicated they would not be filing charges against perpetrators, and of those who did, 46.2% reported dissatisfaction with the interview with police. Psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety were the most common reasons for seeking care at the centers. Nearly all of respondents rated the care they received at the centers as very good or excellent. Respondents recommended more SACs, better advertising of their services, more mental health care within them (especially group therapy), and improved laws and law enforcement of perpetrators.
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
authors.forename: Laura M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Monroe
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Weist
authors.forename: Denise Spriggs
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dafeamekpor
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dantzler
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Reynolds
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D003068:Coercion; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008396:Maryland; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires