Oral

The purpose of this session is to provide practitioners, advocates, and researchers relevant information on public health strategies and current research related to sexual assault and violence prevention. Each presentation focuses on a different international or national cultural context. Two presentations describe studies conducted in South Asia. The first identified community characteristics that protect women from and/or put them at greater risk of partner abuse in India, and the second explored hospital and police service provision for survivors of sexual assault in Bangladesh. The third international paper traced the implications of Prince Edward Island’s regressive public policy of refusing access to abortion services in provincial hospitals. The last two presentations address sexual assault and violence interventions within specific U.S. cultural contexts, the Native American tribal community and homeless population.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe current international research focused on sexual assault and violence prevention in India, Bangladesh, and Prince Edward Island. 2. Assess the implementation of a sexual assault surveillance instrument development for a Native American Tribal community in the U.S.. 3. Discuss strategies for decreasing violence among homeless women in the U.S..

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)