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Abstract #152274
Audio (mp3) recordingSheryll Brown, MPH, Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health, 1000 NE 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, (405) 271-3430, sherylls@health.ok.gov and Shelli Stephens-Stidham, MPA, Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma Department of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117-1299.
Purpose: To gather information on women's attitudes, beliefs, and opinions regarding sexual assault, use of services, sexual assault prevention, and victimization data.
Method: A random telephone survey of Oklahoma women 18-35 years of age was conducted from May 15 - July 21, 2006.
Results: A total of 602 women were interviewed. The most frequently endorsed belief/attitude was “rape can occur in a marriage or intimate relationship” (96.2% agreed). Only slightly more than half (51.8%) agreed that rape can be prevented. Respondents believed that prevention strategies should target women (52.8%), men (6.3%) and both sexes (19.9%). Nearly one-third (31.2%) of respondents had been sexually assaulted; 1.2% had been assaulted in the past 12 months. Nearly three-fourths of sexually assaulted women were younger than 18 years of age when the first sexual assault occurred. Only 7.7% of assailants in the most recent assault were strangers; 92.3% were persons the victim knew. Responses dealing with reporting to police, use of medical treatment, and use of sexual assault services indicated a substantial gap between what respondents would likely do and what women who had been victims of sexual assault actually did. The majority (59.3%) of women were not aware of organizations that help sexual assault victims.
Conclusions: These data indicate that sexual violence victimization among Oklahoma women and girls is a major public health concern. Prevention strategies should target acquaintance rape and sexual assault of females, especially those younger than 18 years of age.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize that what women think they would do following a sexual assault can differ from what they actual do.
- Describe the prevalence of sexual assault victimization among Oklahoma women 18-34 years of age.
- Discuss women's attitudes regarding sexual violence prevention strategies.
Keywords: Sexual Assault, Women's Health
Related Web page: www.health.ok.gov/program/injury/
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.
The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA