Citation

Zinzow HM, Resnick HS, Barr SC, Danielson CK, Kilpatrick DG. Am. J. Prev. Med. 2012; 43(2): 183-187.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amepre.2012.02.025

PMID

22813683

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is important for rape victims to receive medical care to prevent and treat rape-related diseases and injuries, access forensic exams, and connect to needed resources. Few victims seek care, and factors associated with post-rape medical care-seeking are poorly understood. PURPOSE: The current study examined prevalence and factors associated with post-rape medical care-seeking in a national sample of women who reported a most-recent or only incident of forcible rape, and drug- or alcohol-facilitated/incapacitated rape when they were aged ≥14 years. METHODS: A national sample of U.S. adult women (N=3001) completed structured telephone interviews in 2006, and data for this study were analyzed in 2011. Logistic regression analyses examined demographic variables, health, rape characteristics, and post-rape concerns in relation to post-rape medical care-seeking among 445 female rape victims. RESULTS: A minority of rape victims (21%) sought post-rape medical attention following the incident. In the final multivariate model, correlates of medical care included black race, rape-related injury, concerns about sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy concerns, and reporting the incident to police. CONCLUSIONS: Women who experience rapes consistent with stereotypic scenarios, acknowledge the rape, report the rape, and harbor health concerns appear to be more likely to seek post-rape medical services. Education is needed to increase rape acknowledgment, awareness of post-rape services that do not require formal reporting, and recognition of the need to treat rape-related health problems.

Language: en