title: Awareness of a rape crisis center and knowledge about sexual violence among high school adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined awareness among adolescents of a local rape crisis center as well as their knowledge about sexual violence.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC) conducts sexual violence prevention programs for high school students. A written, anonymous survey was distributed to students prior to the start of the program. Students were asked if they had heard of the CRCC; knowledge about sexual violence was assessed with a series of 7 statements (rape myths) that participants identified as true or false. Surveys were reviewed retrospectively. Analyses were carried out for individual questions and frequencies compared using chi-square analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1633 surveys were collected; 1118 (68.5%) participants were female and 514 (31.5%) were male; ages ranged from 12 to 19 years. Respondents described themselves as being of European descent (45.9%), African descent (26.2%), or mixed race (17.7%). Just over half (863, 52.9%) of survey respondents had heard of the CRCC. Over half (950, 58.2%) of participants answered 5 or more questions correctly (range of correct answers 0 to 7). In general, more participants who were aware of the CRCC were able to identify statements about rape correctly (P < .01 for statements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7, P < .001 for ≥ 5 correct). Age, gender, and race were all significantly associated with knowledge about rape. Females were consistently more likely to get an answer correct, as were participants of European descent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of the CRCC was associated with increased knowledge about sexual violence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. Electronic address: sara.lee@uhhospitals.org.
authors.forename: Sara H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Amrita K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.affiliation: Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: O'Riordan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Rina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lazebnik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009820:Ohio; D044469:Racial Groups; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Rape crisis centers; Rape myths; Sexual assault; Sexual violence; Violence