title: Characteristics associated with sexual assaults at mass gatherings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sexual assault is disturbingly common, yet little is known about those occurring at mass gatherings, defined as a group of people congregated for a common purpose. Our objectives were to examine patterns of variation in sexual assault associated with mass gatherings and to determine factors associated with assaults occurring at mass gatherings.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a case series analysis from January to December, 2013. We included all patients >16 years presenting within 30 days of their sexual assault to the Ottawa Hospital Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program (SAPACP). Cases were stratified by whether or not they occurred at mass gatherings. We abstracted from the SAPACP records: patient and sexual assault characteristics, alcohol or drug consumption and medical and forensic care accepted. We performed descriptive analyses and multiple logistical regression to identify factors associated with mass gathering assaults.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found 204 cases of sexual assault, of which 53 (26%) occurred at mass gatherings. Relative frequencies of mass gathering sexual assaults peaked during New Year's Eve, Canada Day, university frosh week and Halloween. We found the following factors were statistically significantly associated with sexual assault at mass gatherings: younger age (OR=0.95, 95% CI 0.91 to 0.99); voluntary consumption of drugs and alcohol (3.88, 95% CI 1.34 to 11.23); assault occurring on a holiday (2.37, 95% CI 1.00 to 5.64) and the assailant unknown to the victim (2.43, 95% CI 1.15 to 5).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study is the first to describe patterns of variation in sexual assault incidents associated with occurrence of mass gatherings as well as factors associated with such assaults. We will disseminate these results to key stakeholders in order to develop prevention-minded policies for future mass gatherings.
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Kari
authors: K
authors: Sampsel
authors: University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Justin
authors: J
authors: Godbout
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Tara
authors: T
authors: Leach
authors: Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Monica
authors: M
authors: Taljaard
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Calder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: forensic/legal medicine; mass gathering medicine; violence, interpersonal