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

Abstract #110826

Erin L. Abner, MA¹, Pamela B. Teaster, PhD¹, Marta S. Mendiondo, PhD², Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik, PhD³, Marilyn Whalen, MSW¹, and Andrew S. Horne, BA¹. (1) Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky, 900 S. Limestone, 306 Wethington Health Sciences Building, Lexington, KY 40536, 859-257-1450 x80241, elabne0@uky.edu, (2) Sanders Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, 800 S. Limestone, 207A Center on Aging, Lexington, KY 40536, (3) Klawsnik & Klawsnik Associates, 24 High St., Canton, MA 02021

Sexual abuse of vulnerable adults presents a significant public health and public safety problem that may become increasingly greater as this population grows and ages. According to reports by Adult Protective Services, the state agency of first report, this phenomenon accounts for approximately 1% of cases but is regarded as highly underreported. Sexual abuse, a subset of physical abuse, occurs in both domestic and institutional settings. The sexual abuse of vulnerable adults and outcomes of state intervention have few empirical studies, and of those, the studies are limited in scope. The dearth of research on this topic is due to the grim nature of the subject, but is also a result of its intensely private, often humiliating nature. Victims are often reluctant to come forward, whether from shame or fear of reprisal. They may be unable to come forward at all, due to dementia and/or mental illness. Moreover, if the abuse occurs in institutional rather than domestic settings, some facilities and state regulatory agencies may minimize public knowledge of the event.

Thanks to NIA funding, significant research on this topic is currently occurring on the sexual abuse of vulnerable adults in 5 states. This poster addresses the myriad challenges faced in conducting such a study on states with differing statutory definitions and organizational practices. Challenges include establishing trust in the investigator, securing the participation of collaborating agencies, navigating definitional issues, managing HIPAA requirements, creating a replicable methodology, and producing a scientific and meaningful research product.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able

• To understand the nature of the sexual abuse of vulnerable adults
• To define the methods and instruments used in this study
• To explain the challenges presented in negotiating data acquisition on the sexual abuse of vulnerable adults in institutions

Keywords: Sexual Assault, Elderly

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.