title: The Long-term Physical Health and Healthcare Utilization of Women Who Were Sexually Abused as Children.
abstract: This article addresses the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and the long-term physical health and healthcare utilization of 148 female participants in an eight-year prospective study. Five factors of physical health emerged: General Health; Vegetative Health Symptoms; Colds and Flu; Gastrointestinal/Gynecological; and Healthcare Utilization. Abused females scored higher on the healthcare utilization and gastrointestinal/gynecological factors than comparison females. Abused females experiencing multiple perpetrators, violence, longer duration and older age at onset endorsed significantly more gastrointestinal/gynecological problems than did the other abused females and the comparison group. Findings suggest that: (1) sexual abuse affects long-term health outcomes and healthcare utilization; and (2) physical health sequelae of abuse may differentially affect females, depending upon the pattern of abuse characteristics.
authors: University of Southern California, USA.
authors: Amy E
authors: AE
authors: Sickel
authors: Jennie G
authors: JG
authors: Noll
authors: Philip J
authors: PJ
authors: Moore
authors: Frank W
authors: FW
authors: Putnam
authors: Penelope K
authors: PK
authors: Trickett