EXPERIENCE OF FORCED SEX AND SUBSEQUENT SEXUAL, DRUG, AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES: AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HISPANIC WOMEN IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES

Prevalence and Variations of Sexual Violence Victimization Among US-Based Latino Adults and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review

Sexual violence victimization (SVV) is a significant public health concern. SVV research often focuses on college-attending White women's experiences, resulting in a knowledge gap regarding the experiences of ethnic minority groups, including the Latino community - the largest minority group in the US. To develop more culturally sensitive SV prevention efforts, the current study reviewed research focused on the prevalence rates of SVV among Latino people. The authors searched for published articles in PubMed, PsycINFO, and the reference sections of relevant articles published from 2011 to 2022. Articles were deemed eligible if they presented SVV prevalence rates for Latino participants; 39 articles were included in the review. The most frequently assessed aspect of SVV among Latino people was whether they had ever been victimized. The average prevalence rate across articles was 16.0%. Additionally, researchers examined the prevalence rates of unwanted touching, sexual coercion, and completed rape among Latino individuals. Few articles examined SVV prevalence rates among sexual and gender minority Latinos; those that did found higher SVV rates among those groups. SVV is a prevalent issue within the Latino community, with women and sexual minorities facing an even greater risk. Moving forward, studying the contextual factors of SVV among Latino people and developing culturally sensitive interventions tailored to this population are needed.

Non-Consensual Sex and Help-Seeking Behavior Among PrEP Users in Belgium: Findings from an Online Survey

Non-consensual sex poses a threat not only to sexual health but also to mental and physical health in general. HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users might be particularly vulnerable to non-consensual sex because of interplaying factors such as mental health disorders, a high number of sex partners, engagement in chemsex, and the widespread use of dating apps. The objectives of this study were to assess the occurrence of non-consensual sex, its associated factors, and related help-seeking behavior among PrEP users. We analyzed data from an online survey among PrEP users in Belgium (09/2020-02/2022). Almost one in five participants (34/187, 18.2%) reported having ever experienced non-consensual sex. The most reported form was having sex against one's will, followed by having been given drugs against one's will, and having had sex without a condom against one's will. The vast majority of those who had experienced non-consensual sex (29/34, 85.3%) did not seek help afterward, mostly due to a lack of perceived need (21/29, 72.4%). Reported barriers to seeking help were shame (6/29, 20.7%) and lack of awareness of help services (3/29, 10.3%). Having experienced non-consensual sex in the past five years was associated with younger age and suicidal ideation in a multivariable logistic regression model. We conclude that addressing barriers to non-consensual sex help services is crucial to maximize their use and minimize the consequences of non-consensual sex experiences. PrEP consultations also represent an opportunity to offer such help given PrEP users are already familiar with these PrEP services and engaged in care.

Sexual intimacy and relationship happiness in living apart together, cohabiting, and married relationships: evidence from Britain

Research on relationship happiness have traditionally compared cohabiting and married relationships. Studies including LAT relationships are scarce and have disregarded sexual aspects of the relationships. This paper compares how married, cohabitating, and LAT relationships in Britain differ with respect to sexual intimacy (defined as emotional closeness during sex, compatibility in terms of sexual preferences, and interest in having sex with a partner), and relationship happiness. Rich data from the British National Study of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL-3, 2010–2012) are used to estimate ordered logistic regression models. Cohabiting individuals share the same levels of sexual intimacy as those married, but they are less happy in their relationship than those married. LAT individuals enjoy overall greater sexual intimacy than coresidential individuals but they are less happy in their relationships. Women in LAT relationships feel less often emotionally close to their partner during sex than married women. By knitting the sex research with the demographic literature, this paper offers new insights in understanding the nature of partnerships, opening up new venues for future research.

Chronic Diseases, Health Conditions, and Other Impacts Associated With Rape Victimization of U.S. Women

Sexual violence (SV) is an urgent public health issue that is common and has lifelong effects on health. Previous scholarship has documented the association of SV victimization with numerous health conditions and impacts, but much of this past work has focused on negative health outcomes associated with child sexual abuse using non-nationally representative samples. This article used a nationally representative female sample to examine health conditions associated with any lifetime experience of rape. We also examined injury and health outcomes (e.g., fear, injury) resulting from any violence by a perpetrator of rape. About two in five rape victims (39.1%) reported injury (e.g., bruises, vaginal tears), and 12.3% reported a sexually transmitted disease as a result of the rape victimization. Approximately 71.3% of rape victims (an estimated 16.4 million women) experienced some form of impact as a result of violence by a rape perpetrator. Among U.S. women, the adjusted odds of experiencing asthma, irritable bowel syndrome, frequent headaches, chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, activity limitations, poor physical or mental health, and use of special equipment (e.g., wheelchair) were significantly higher for lifetime rape victims compared with non-victims. This article fills gaps in our understanding of health impacts associated with rape of women and is the only nationally representative source of this information to our knowledge. Primary prevention efforts in youth that seek to prevent the first occurrence of rape and other forms of SV may be most effective for reducing the long-term health effects of this violence.

Associations between Cannabis Use and Sexual Risk Behavior among Women under Community Supervision: A Brief Report

OBJECTIVES

Cannabis use and sexual risk behavior have been found to co-occur, but more research on these associations is needed among criminal justice-involved women (i.e., courts, jails, or prisons).

METHODS

Regression models examined past 90-day cannabis use on unprotected sex, multiple sexual partners, and STIs/HIV among 306 women under NYC community supervision, adjusting for alcohol, other illicit substances, and socio-demographics.

RESULTS

Cannabis use, but not alcohol or other illicit substance use, was positively associated with having unprotected sex and multiple sexual partners, but not STIs or HIV.

CONCLUSIONS

Criminal justice-involved women may benefit from sexual risk reduction interventions incorporating cannabis content.

Adapting an evidence-based positive youth development intervention to prevent sexual and teen dating violence

Adapting evidence-based interventions (EBIs) guided by implementation science frameworks is a promising way to accelerate the translation of effective violence prevention in schools. School-based interventions offer an opportunity to reduce the risk of multiple forms of violence, including sexual violence (SV) and teen dating violence (TDV). EBIs in schools reach large populations of adolescents, including those underserved in other settings. Although specific SV/TDV prevention programs exist, evaluations indicate limited effectiveness over time. We adapted systematically the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) violence-prevention EBI using key adaptation steps described in implementation science frameworks to expand the scope of YES to integrate an SV/TDV focus and meet the needs of local youth. In the formative project year, the team adapted YES to integrate SV/TDV content informed by key steps outlined in frameworks including ADAPT-ITT, research-tested intervention programs, and map of the adaptation process. These steps include: (a) assess school and student needs, (b) identify, select an EBI, (c) consult with experts with knowledge in the new topic area (SV/TDV), (d) collaborate with community partners and stakeholders, (e) identify areas for adaptation while maintaining fidelity to core elements, (f) train staff, (g) pilot test adapted materials, (h) implement, and (i) evaluate. We developed the YES for Healthy Relationships (YES-HR), a school-based prevention program that retained core elements of YES, including content related to mastery, adult resources, leadership skills, and community engagement, while integrating SV/TDV-specific content (e.g., consent). Implementation science adaptation frameworks are useful in guiding the systematic adaptation of existing EBIs to meet the needs of youth.

Sexual Violence Victimization Among Youth Presenting to an Urban Emergency Department: The Role of Violence Exposure in Predicting Risk

Sexual violence (SV) is a widespread public health problem among adolescents and emerging adults with significant short- and long-term consequences. Young people living in urban, disadvantaged communities with high rates of violence may be especially at risk for SV victimization. Understanding interconnections between different forms of violence is critical to reducing SV risk among youth. Participants were youth ( N = 599) ages 14 to 24 years ( M = 20.05, SD = 2.42) presenting to an urban emergency department with a Level 1 trauma designation as part of a prospective cohort study and followed-up for 24 months. We used logistic regression to examine the probability of reporting SV during the 24-month follow-up based on baseline reports of community and peer violence exposure, accounting for previous SV victimization, substance use, and sociodemographic characteristics. Among youth presenting to an urban emergency department, 22% of youth not seeking care for a sexual assault reported any lifetime SV (forced and/or substance-induced sexual intercourse) at baseline. During the 24-month follow-up, 12% reported SV victimization. We found high community violence exposure (odds ratio [OR] = 2.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.01, 8.68]) and peer violence exposure (OR = 1.58, 95% CI [1.19, 2.08]) were associated with increased odds of reporting SV during follow-up in addition to previous SV victimization (OR = 2.71, 95% CI [1.45, 5.09]). Sex, age, parent education, and alcohol or other drug use at baseline were not associated with odds of SV during follow-up. Investigating interconnections between SV victimization and other forms of violence across socioecological levels provides an opportunity to advance SV research and identify promising avenues for prevention based on other violence prevention research. Future strategies for SV prevention that incorporate community and peer components as well as SV-specific content may help reduce SV victimization among youth living in urban, disadvantaged communities.