Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #110596

Gopal Sankaran, MD, DrPH, CHES, Department of Health, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 317 Sturzebecker Health Sciences Center, West Chester, PA 19383, 6104362300, gsankaran@wcupa.edu

The occurrence of sexual harassment in the workplace, in academia, and in sport is well known. However, underreporting of its frequency, along with inadequate training of care-giving professionals (such as medical, nursing, social workers, and mental health counselors) in identifying and documenting its health effects, has resulted in a paucity of studies on this topic in the medical and health literature. Additionally, the focus in the popular media and in professional literature has been on more severe forms of sexual victimization such as sexual abuse and sexual assault. This paper, through an empirical analysis of available evidence, will: i) provide an overview of the health impact of sexual harassment, ii) discuss the reasons for the limited availability of data on this topic, iii) specify how care-giving professionals can become better trained to recognize the health effects, and iv) identify resources for education and training about sexual harassment, its prevention, and control. Samples of code of ethics will be shared to encourage participants to be catalysts in preventing sexual harassment in the organizations that they are affiliated with.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Identify the health effects of sexual harassment.
• 2. Specify the role of care-giving professionals in aiding victims of sexual harassment.
• 3. List three ways in which both women and men can play a role in the prevention and control of sexual harassment in their organizations.

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.