title: Factors Associated With Sexual Coercion in a Representative Sample of Men in Australian Prisons.
abstract: Very little research has focused on men or prisoners as victims of sexual violence. This study provides the first population-based analysis of factors associated with sexual coercion of men in Australian prisons, and the first to use a computer-assisted telephone interview to collect this information in a prison setting. A random sample of men in New South Wales and Queensland prisons were surveyed using computer-assisted telephone interviewing. We asked participants about sexual coercion, defined as being forced or frightened into doing something sexually that was unwanted while in prison. Associations between sexual coercion in prison and sociodemographics, sexual coercion history outside of prison, and prison-related factors were examined. Logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios in examining factors associated with sexual coercion in prisons. Of 2626 eligible men, 2000 participated. Participants identifying as non-heterosexual and those with a history of sexual coercion outside prison were found to be most at risk. Those in prison for the first time and those who had spent more than 5 years in prison ever were also more likely to report sexual coercion. Although prison policies and improving prison officer training may help address immediate safety and health concerns of those at risk, given the sensitivity of the issue and likely under-reporting to correctional staff, community-based organizations and prisoner peer-based groups arguably have a role too in providing both preventive and trauma-focused support.
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia. psimpson@kirby.unsw.edu.au.
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reekie
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Tony G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richters
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.affiliation: Corrective Services New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Queensland Department of Health, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Alun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Wallace Wurth Building, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.|Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Basil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Donovan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003068:Coercion; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Australia; Men; Prisons; Sex survey; Sexual coercion