Citation

Basile KC, Chen J, Black MC, Saltzman LE. Violence Vict. 2007; 22(4): 437-448.

Affiliation

Division of Violence Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. kbasile@cdc.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Springer Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17691551

Abstract

This article provides the most recent U.S. prevalence estimates of forced sex and unwanted sexual activity. Results of a national telephone survey conducted in 2001-2003 indicate that 1 in 59 U.S. adults (2.7 million women and 978,000 men) experienced unwanted sexual activity in the 12 months preceding the survey and that 1 in 15 U.S. adults (11.7 million women and 2.1 million men) have been forced to have sex during their lifetime. There were 60.4% of females and 69.2% of males who were 17 years old or younger at the time the first forced sex occurred. This study provides an update to the National Violence Against Women Survey with more recent national data. Findings suggest that victimization rates have remained consistent since the 1990s. These findings suggest that a continued effort toward primary prevention of sexual violence, particularly rape of children and adolescents, is needed.

Language: en