[Relations Between Rape Myths and Behavioral and Personality Characteristics in Males Convicted of Rape]. / Verhaltens- und persönlichkeitsbasierte Korrelate von Vergewaltigungsmythen bei Männern, die aufgrund einer Vergewaltigung verurteilt wurden.

OBJECTIVE: To date the relationships between rape myths and other psychological constructs within males who have committed rape have not been explored sufficiently. Considered as a risk factor for the perpetration of rape it seems significant to examine their association to individual behavioral and personality characteristics more in detail. METHODS: Therefore, we analyzed the relations between self-reported rape myth acceptance and the self-evaluation of aggressiveness, assertiveness, hypersexuality, social anxiety, sexual anxiety, SCID personality characteristics and the external assessment of psychopathy within a sample of N=569 males convicted of rape. RESULTS: The results showed significant correlations with all constructs except sexual anxiety, antisocial personality and psychopathy. Furthermore, findings indicated the assignment of the relevant variables to two principal components: rape myths, aggressiveness, hypersexuality, paranoid and narcissistic personality (K1) on the one hand and psychopathy and antisocial personality (K2) on the other hand. DISCUSSION: Following the results, rape myths are contextualized within the investigated psychological constructs and their potential differentiation from psychopathy and antisocial personality is discussed.

Rape Crisis Victim Advocacy: A Systematic Review.

While rape crisis center (RCC) advocacy is generally regarded as valuable, there are no prior systematic reviews of the advocacy literature. This review examined RCC advocacy service provision, perceptions and impact of advocacy, and challenges and facilitators to effective service provision. Databases related to health and social sciences were searched including Academic Search Complete, PsychINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, ProQuest, Science Direct, OAlster, WorldCat, and MEDLINE. Empirical articles written in English that examined RCC advocacy service provision and/or impact in the US were included. The researchers reviewed abstracts and titles, and then full texts. Forty-five articles met criteria, were summarized, and double checked. Findings demonstrate advocacy is multi-faceted, beneficial, and challenging. Advocates work directly with survivors and interact with other responders on behalf of survivors. Specifically, advocates provide emotional support, safety plan, support survivors in making decisions, and assist them in navigating other systems. While advocates are generally regarded positively by survivors and responders, some responders have concerns about advocates. In addition, advocates sometimes report victim-blaming and being ill-equipped to meet survivors' needs. Finally, advocates face specific challenges in their work with survivors and responders. Future research using diverse methodological approaches is needed to understand advocacy utilization and reach; survivors' perceptions of advocacy; marginalized survivors' experiences; connections between specific services, implementation, and outcomes; and effective strategies for advocates' interactions with other responders. Additional resources to help advocates serve all survivors effectively and equitably; to support evaluator-practitioner partnerships; and to share unpublished data on advocacy may help contribute to improvements in advocacy practice.

Associations Between Sexual Assault and Reproductive and Family Planning Behaviors and Outcomes in Female Veterans.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between lifetime sexual assault (defined as someone having experienced sexual assault in their lifetime) and reproductive health care seeking, contraception usage, and family planning outcomes in female veterans. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected between 2005 and 2008 from computer-assisted telephone interviews with 1,004 female veterans aged 20-52 years who were enrolled at two Midwestern Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care systems. Participants were asked about reproductive, mental, and general health histories, and about lifetime sexual assault. We assessed associations between reproductive histories and contraceptive use among participants who reported lifetime sexual assault, compared with those who had not experienced lifetime sexual assault, by using bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Lastly, we examined reasons why these participants had not sought Pap test screening. RESULTS: More than half (62%) of participants reported experiencing lifetime sexual assault. Because there was an association between older age and history of lifetime sexual assault (P<.001), we stratified the analysis by age. Women with a history of lifetime sexual assault were more likely to have had unprotected intercourse for a year or more (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.31, 95% CI 1.35-3.96) and a teen pregnancy (aOR 2.10, 95% CI 1.07-4.12) than women who did not report lifetime sexual assault. When stratified by age, women aged 40-52 years with a history of lifetime sexual assault were more likely to report more than a year of unprotected sex, teen pregnancy, and not seeking prenatal care with their first pregnancy, than women aged 40-52 who did not report lifetime sexual assault. Women who experienced lifetime sexual assault were more likely to report not seeking Pap tests in the past owing to fear and anxiety when compared with women who had not experienced lifetime sexual assault. CONCLUSION: Female veterans who reported lifetime sexual assault had differences in family planning behaviors compared with women who did not report lifetime sexual assault. These findings have implications for clinicians and VA policymakers when determining family planning and reproductive care delivery needs for female veterans of reproductive age.

Escala de Percepção de Causas do Estupro (EPCE): adaptação ao contexto brasileiro / Perceived Causes of Rape Scale (PCRS): adaptation to the brazilian context / Escala de Percepción de Causas de Violacíon (EPCV): adaptación al contexto brasileño

Foram realizados dois estudos com estudantes universitários a fim de reunir evidências psicométricas da adaptação da Escala de Percepção de Causas do Estupro (EPCE) ao contexto brasileiro. O Estudo 1 contou com 220 pessoas com idade média de 23,5 anos (DP = 7,56; variaram de 18 a 63 anos) (64,5% do sexo feminino), enquanto no Estudo 2 participaram 203 indivíduos com idade média de 21,4 anos (DP = 5,17; variaram de 18 a 51 anos) (54,2% do sexo feminino), todos responderam perguntas demográficas, a EPCE e uma medida de atitudes negativas frente a vítimas de estupro. As análises corroboraram a estrutura fatorial de 5 componentes, com índices de consistência interna variando entre 0,92 e 0,70. Ademais, observou-se uma correlação positiva da EPCE com atitudes negativas frente a vítimas (validade convergente). Concluindo, esta escala apresentou evidências de validades fatorial e convergente, além de consistência interna, apoiando seu uso em estudos futuros.

Two studies with university students were conducted with the objective of adapting to the Brazilian context the Rape Causes Perception Scale (RCPS), gathering evidence of its factorial and convergent validities and reliability. Study 1 had 220 people with a mean age of 23.5 years old (SD = 7.56; ranged from 18 to 63 years) (64.5% female), while in Study 2 participants were 203 individuals with a mean age 21.4 years old (SD = 5.17; ranged from 18 to 51 years) (54.2% female), all having answered demographic questions, the RCPS and a measure of negative attitudes towards rape victims. The analyzes corroborated its theoretical structure of five components, presenting reliability coefficients ranging from 0.70 to 0.92. In addition, a positive correlation between RCPS and negative attitudes towards victims was observed (convergent validity). In conclusion, this scale showed evidence of factorial and convergent validity, as well as reliability, supporting its use in future studies

Se realizaron dos estudios con estudiantes universitarios con el fin de reunir evidencia psicométrica de la adaptación de la Escala de percepción de causa de violación (EPCV) al contexto brasileño. El Estudio 1 tuvo 220 personas con una edad promedio de 23.5 años (DE = 7.56; rango de 18 a 63 años) (64.5% mujeres), mientras que en el Estudio 2, 203 individuos con una edad promedio 21.4 años (DE = 5.17; rango de 18 a 51 años) (54.2% mujeres), todas respondieron preguntas demográficas, EPCV y una medida de actitudes negativas hacia las víctimas de violación. Los análisis corroboraron la estructura factorial de 5 componentes, con índices de consistencia interna que varían de 0,92 a 0,70. Además, hubo una correlación positiva de EPCV con actitudes negativas hacia las víctimas (validez convergente). En conclusión, esta escala mostró evidencia de validez factorial y convergente, así como de consistencia interna, apoyando su uso en futuros estudios.

Experiencias en mujeres víctimas del conflicto armado del municipio de san juan de nepomuceno-colombia / Experiences in women victims of the armed conflict of the municipality of san juan de nepomuceno-colombia

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir el significado de las experiencias vividas en las mujeres víctimas del conflicto armado en San Juan de Nepomuceno, Colombia. Material y Método: Estudio cualitativo-fenomenológico cuya población estuvo conformada por 10 mujeres pertenecientes a una fundación del municipio de San Juan de Nepomuceno durante agosto a septiembre de 2018, la cual se obtuvo mediante la saturación de datos. Para el análisis de la información se clasificaron en tablas los descriptores, teniendo en cuenta la similitud conceptual en cada uno de ellos, ayudado con las notas de campo. Resultados: Se identificó el desplazamiento, asesinato, tortura e intimidación y violación sexual como hechos violentos experimentados por las mujeres durante el conflicto armado. Asimismo, transcurrido 15 años de los hechos violentos, aún se percibe por las mujeres afectaciones psicosociales en el presente, caracterizados por sueños recurrentes relacionados con el hecho violento, ruptura de vínculos sociales, alteraciones mentales, crisis depresivas, ansiedad y las ideas recurrentes de repetición de los hechos violentos. Conclusión: Es importante que desde enfermería se aborde esta problemática a fin de crear estrategias de intervención para esta población vulnerable, que permitan su estabilidad psicosocial tanto para las mujeres como para su núcleo familiar.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the meaning of experiences lived by women victims of the armed conflict in the municipality of San Juan de Nepomuceno, Colombia. Materials and Methods: Qualitative, phenomenological study; the population consisted of 10 women belonging to a foundation of the municipality of San Juan de Nepomuceno from August to September 2018, which was obtained by data saturation. For the data analysis, descriptors were classified into tables, considering the conceptual similarity in each of one of them and complementing with field notes. Results: Displacement, murder, torture, intimidation and rape were identified as violent acts experienced by women during the armed conflict. Additionally, after 15 years of violent events, women still perceive psychosocial effects, characterized by recurring dreams related to the violent events, the breakdown of social ties, mental disorders, depression, anxiety and ideas of repetition of the violent events. Conclusion: It is important that the field of nursing addresses this issue in order to create strategies to help this vulnerable population, which can contribute to psychosocial stability for women and their families.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o significado das experiencias vividas em mulheres vítimas do conflito armado em San Juan de Nepomuceno, Colômbia. Material e método: Estudo qualitativo-fenomenológico cuja população foi composta por 10 mulheres pertencentes a uma fundação do município de San Juan de Nepomuceno no período de agosto a setembro de 2018, obtida através da saturação de dados. Para a análise da informação os descritores foram classificados em tabelas, levando em consideração a similaridade conceitual em cada um deles, auxiliada nas anotações de campo. Resultados: Deslocamento, assassinato, tortura e intimidação e estupro foram identificados como eventos violentos vivenciados por mulheres durante o conflito armado. Da mesma forma, após 15 anos de atos violentos, ainda se percebem, no presente, distúrbios psicossociais em mulheres, caracterizados por sonhos recorrentes relacionados ao ato violento, ruptura de laços sociais, alteração mental, crise depressiva, ansiedade e ideias recorrentes de repetição de atos de violência. Conclusão: É importante que esse problema seja abordado desde a enfermagem a fim de criar estratégias de intervenção para esta população vulnerável, que permitam sua estabilidade psicossocial tanto para as mulheres, quanto para o núcleo familiar.

When Darkness Starts.

In this essay, a medical student reflects on her experience as part of a service trip to rural Honduras. Although she feels proud of the work the group does and the impact that they are able to make, she is also forced to grapple with the vast amount of unremitted suffering that she will inevitably leave behind.

Revictimization as a high-risk factor for development of posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review of the literature

Objective: Much research has been published on the role of sexual revictimization in the emergence of mental disorders in adulthood, but findings have sometimes been contradictory. The present systematic review sought to assess the state of the evidence on revictimization as a potential factor for the emergence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: Electronic searches were conducted in five databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Campbell Library, PsycINFO, and LILACS), using the terms PTSD, posttraumatic stress disorder, child abuse, and rape. Results: We identified nine articles that established a connection among childhood sexual abuse (CSA), sexual revictimization in adulthood, and development of PTSD. Eight of the nine papers included were classified as having strong methodological quality (grade VI). One was classified as IV, with an average quality-of-evidence rating. The mean methodological quality score of the articles was 5.5, and the quality of evidence was deemed strong. Conclusion: In the included studies, PTSD symptoms were most prevalent in the CSA + adult sexual assault groups, providing further evidence for the revictimization hypothesis.

Rape Messaging.

When feminists began advocating for rape reform in the 1970s, the rape message was clear: rape was not a crime to be taken seriously because women lie. After decades of criminal law reform, the legal requirement that a woman vigorously resist a man's sexual advances to prove that she was raped has largely disappeared from the statute books, and, in theory, rape shield laws make a woman's prior sexual history irrelevant. Yet, despite what the law dictates, rape law reforms have not had a "trickle-down" effect, where changes in law lead to changes in attitude. Women are still believed to be vindictive shrews so police continue to code rape allegations as "unfounded," and prosecutors continue to elect not to prosecute many rape cases. To many, "no" can sometimes still mean "yes." In short, criminal law reforms have only marginally succeeded at deterring rape and increasing conviction rates for rape. At the same time, criminal law reforms have entrenched gender norms and endorsed the message that acquaintance rapes are less worthy of harsh punishment. This Article argues against further ex post criminal law reforms and posits that efforts should shift to ex ante public health interventions. This Article draws from recent successful experiences with public health interventions in destigmatizing AIDS and denormalizing tobacco and advocates for a robust public health campaign to denormalize rape. It presents a detailed proposal for changing rape messaging, denormalizing rape, and ensuring better outcomes for victims.

Increased Health Care Utilization and Costs Among Veterans With a Positive Screen for Military Sexual Trauma.

BACKGROUND: The effects of sexual trauma on long-term health care utilization and costs are not well understood due to infrequent documentation of sexual trauma history in health care systems. The Veteran's Health Administration provides a unique opportunity to address this constraint as sexual trauma is actively screened for as part of routine care. METHODS: We used a retrospective cohort design to analyze Veteran's Health Administration mental health and medical service utilization and costs as a function of a positive screen for exposure to military sexual trauma (MST) among Veterans of recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. We computed adjusted 5-year estimates of overall utilization and costs, and utilization and costs determined not to be related to MST. RESULTS: The cohort included 426,223 men and 59,611 women. A positive MST screen was associated with 50% higher health care utilization and costs relative to a negative screen. Overall, a positive relative to negative MST screen was associated with a 5-year incremental difference of 34.6 encounters and $10,734 among women, and 33.5 encounters and $11,484 among men. After accounting for MST-related treatment, positive MST screen was associated with 11.9 encounters and $4803 among women, and 19.5 encounters and $8001 among men. CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate significant and consistent differences in health care utilization and costs between Veterans with a positive relative to negative MST screen. Even after accounting for MST-related care, a positive screen was associated with significantly higher utilization and costs. MST-related needs may be more readily recognized in women relative to men.

Estupro e gravidez: Relatos das vivências de mulheres antes e após o desfecho da gestação / Rape and pregnancy: Reports of the experiences of women before and after the end of pregnancy / Estupro e gravidez: Relatos de vivencias de mujeres antes y después del desfecho de la gestación

Resumo Investigou-se a experiência de três mulheres que engravidaram resultado de estupro, usuárias de um hospital-maternidade de Fortaleza, Ceará, destacando as vivências anteriores e após o desfecho da gestação (a continuidade ou a interrupção legal). Em dois casos houve a interrupção legal da gestação e em um caso a continuidade, após ter sido negada a concessão para a realização do aborto. Os motivos relacionados à interrupção da gravidez foram: pensamentos e sentimentos negativos em torno da violência, da criança e da perspectiva de vida futura. Após o desfecho, as participantes que interromperam a gestação expressaram o desejo de retomar ou iniciar projetos de vida e no caso da participante que precisou dar continuidade à gestação, sinais de uma possível vinculação afetiva com a criança. Conclui-se que tais experiências necessitam ser conhecidas em seus aspectos de interrupção ou de continuidade da gestação para a melhoria das políticas públicas voltadas para essas mulheres.

Abstract We investigated the experience of three women who became pregnant by rape, using a maternity hospital in Fortaleza, Ceará, highlighting previous experiences and after gestation (continuity or legal interruption). In two cases there was a legal interruption of gestation and in one case continuity, after being denied the concession to perform the abortion. The reasons related to the interruption of pregnancy were: negative thoughts and feelings about violence, the child and the perspective of future life. After the outcome, participants who interrupted gestation expressed a desire to resume or initiate life projects, and in the case of the participant who had to continue gestation, signs of a possible affective attachment to the child. It is concluded that such experiences need to be known in their aspects of interruption or continuity of gestation for the improvement of the public policies directed towards these women.

Resumen Investigue una experiencia de tres mujeres que graven el resultado de estupro, las usuarias de un hospital-maternidad de Fortaleza, Ceará, destacando como vivencias anteriores y después del desfecho de la gestación (una continuidad o una interrupción legal). En los casos en que se produjo una interrupción legal de la gestión y en el caso de una continuidad, después de haber sido negada una concesión para un acto de aborto. Los motivos relacionados con la interrupción de la gravedad son: pensamientos y sentimientos negativos en la violencia, de la infancia y la perspectiva de la vida futura. Tras el desfecho, como participantes que se interrumpen en una gestación expresada en el deseo de retomar o en iniciar los proyectos de vida y en el caso de la participación que precisan en la continuidad de la gestación, los signos de una posible vinculación afetiva con un niño. Conclui-se que tales experiencias necesitan ser conocidas en sus senos de interrupción o de continuidad de la gestación para un mejoramiento de las políticas públicas voltadas para estas mujeres.

Korean Survivors of the Japanese "Comfort Women" System: Understanding the Lifelong Consequences of Early Life Trauma.

Prior to and during World War II, thousands of girls and young women were abducted from Korea and forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese government. Termed comfort women, these girls and young women suffered extreme sexual, physical, and emotional abuse and trauma. Research on this group is not well-developed and people know little of the impact of this early life trauma on the lives of these women who are now in later life. Using snowball sampling, 16 older adult survivors of the comfort women system participated in semistructured qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted to gain an understanding of the trauma that these women suffered and how it impacted their lives. Results revealed the depths of the abuse these women suffered, including repeated rapes, physical beatings, humiliation, forced surgery and sterilization, and social exclusion. These early traumatic experiences appeared to reverberate throughout their lives in their family relations, their inability to marry and to conceive children, and their emotional and physical well-being throughout the life course and into later life. The experiences of these survivors illustrate the lasting impact of early-life trauma and can guide interventions with current survivors of sexual abuse or trafficking.

Differential Risk for Homelessness Among US Male and Female Veterans With a Positive Screen for Military Sexual Trauma.

IMPORTANCE: Military sexual trauma (MST) is associated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes following military separation. Recent research suggests that MST may be a determinant in several factors associated with postdeployment homelessness. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate MST as an independent risk factor for homelessness and to determine whether risk varies by sex. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective cohort study of US veterans who used Veterans Health Administration (VHA) services between fiscal years 2004 and 2013 was conducted using administrative data from the Department of Defense and VHA. Included in the study were 601 892 US veterans deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan who separated from the military between fiscal years 2001 and 2011 and subsequently used VHA services. EXPOSURE: Positive response to screen for MST administered in VHA facilities. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Administrative evidence of homelessness within 30 days, 1 year, and 5 years following the first VHA encounter after last deployment. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age of the 601 892 participants was 38.9 (9.4) years, 527 874 (87.7%) were male, 310 854 (51.6%) were white, and 382 361 (63.5%) were enlisted in the Army. Among veterans with a positive screen for MST, rates of homelessness were 1.6% within 30 days, 4.4% within 1 year, and 9.6% within 5 years, more than double the rates of veterans with a negative MST screen (0.7%, 1.8%, and 4.3%, respectively). A positive screen for MST was significantly and independently associated with postdeployment homelessness. In regression models adjusted for demographic and military service characteristics, odds of experiencing homelessness were higher among those who screened positive for MST compared with those who screened negative (30-day: adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.89; 95% CI, 1.58-2.24; 1-year: AOR, 2.27; 95% CI, 2.04-2.53; and 5-year: AOR, 2.63; 95% CI, 2.36-2.93). Military sexual trauma screen status remained independently associated with homelessness after adjusting for co-occurring mental health and substance abuse diagnoses in follow-up regression models (30-day: AOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.36-1.93; 1-year: AOR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.33-1.66; and 5-year: AOR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.24-1.55). In the fully adjusted models, the interaction between MST status and sex was significant in the 30-day and 1-year cohorts (30-day: AOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.18-2.02; and 1-year: AOR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.23-1.74), denoting higher risk for homelessness among males with a positive screen for MST. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A positive screen for MST was independently associated with postdeployment homelessness, with male veterans at greater risk than female veterans. These results underscore the importance of the MST screen as a clinically important marker of reintegration outcomes among veterans. These findings demonstrate significant long-term negative effects and inform our understanding of the public health implications of sexual abuse and harassment.

Ofensores sexuais avaliados pelo desenho da figura humana / Sex offenders evaluated using the human figure drawing / Delincuentes sexuales evaluados por el dibujo de la figura humana

Este estudo se propôs a avaliar características psicológicas de ofensores sexuais intrafamiliares. Participaram do estudo 10 homens, entre 23 e 59 anos de idade, em situação de reclusão em um Centro de Ressocialização, pelo artigo 213 do Código Penal Brasileiro. Uma entrevista semidirigida e o Desenho da Figura Humana foram utilizadas como instrumentos. A coleta dos dados ocorreu de forma individual, sendo analisados no programa estatístico SPSS versão 22.0, para elaboração de análises descritivas simples. Os resultados dessa amostra apontam indicativos de dificuldade em lidar com impulsos corporais na busca pela satisfação imediata das necessidades, inclusive e, sobretudo, sexuais. Essas características foram recorrentes em alguns elementos dos desenhos, como a perspectiva em relação à localização na página, o tronco omitido e ausência de pupila nos olhos. Os principais resultados corroboram as características de personalidade retratadas comumente na literatura e confirmam a inexistência de um perfil psicológico para o ofensor sexual.

The aim of this study was to evaluate psychological characteristics of intra-family sexual offenders. The study included 10 men, between 23 and 59 years of age, who are inmates in a Resocialization Center as a function of Article 213 of the Brazilian Penal Code. A semi-structured interview and Human Figure Drawing were used, individually, as data collection instruments. Findings were analyzed by the statistic program SPSS version 22.0 for preparation of simple descriptive analyses. The results from this sample indicated difficulty in dealing with physical impulses in seeking immediate satisfaction of needs, including, and primarily, sexual needs. These characteristics were recurrent in some elements of the drawings, such as the location on the paper, the omission of the midsection and the absence of pupils in the eyes. The main findings corroborate the personality characteristics commonly portrayed in the literature and confirm the inexistence of a psychological profile of a sexual offender.

Este estudio se propuso evaluar las características psicológicas de delincuentes que han cometido violencia sexual intrafamiliar. Participaron del estudio 10 hombres, entre 23 y 59 años de edad, en estado de reclusión en un centro de reinserción social, por el artículo 213 del Código Penal Brasileño. Se utilizaron como instrumentos una entrevista semi-dirigida y el dibujo de la figura humana. La recolección de los datos se realizó en forma individual y se analizaron los mismos mediante la programación estadística SPSS versión 22.0, para la elaboración de análisis descriptivos simples. Los resultados de esta muestra señalan indicativos de dificultad en lidiar con impulsos corporales, en la búsqueda de satisfacción inmediata de las necesidades, principalmente sexuales. Esas características fueron recurrentes en algunos elementos de los dibujos, como la perspectiva en relación a la ubicación en la página, el tronco omitido y ausencia de pupila en los ojos. Los principales resultados confirman las características de la personalidad comúnmente retratadas en la literatura y también la ausencia de un perfil psicológico para el delincuente sexual.

Correlates of Self-Report of Rape Among Male School Adolescents in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

This study examined male adolescents' self-report of rape of adolescent girls and the socio-demographic variables that correlated with self-report of rape. Descriptive-correlational design was used and the study was conducted in five public senior secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Three hundred and thirty-eight male adolescents participated in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Findings from the study revealed the mean age of the adolescent males to be 16 years, with the majority (73%) of them in the middle adolescent stage. Six percent of the adolescent males reported they had raped an adolescent girl in the past. Among the boys who reported rape, 55% reported they had raped their sexual partners, and 55% reported they had perpetrated gang rape. Smoking (p = .0001), alcohol consumption (p = .001), and birth order (p = .006) predicted self-report of rape. The coefficient of birth order showed that odds of self-report of rape by first-born male increases by 6 times compared with other children. Study findings also provided evidence that adolescent males are moving from lone rape to gang rape in intimate partner relationships. Male adolescents are important group to target in rape prevention programs.

Sexual Violence in America: Public Funding and Social Priority.

We compared lifetime risk, annual incidence, and annual economic burden of sexual violence with other major public health issues in the United States: cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. With public funding data from 2013, we examined how much public funding is allocated to these public health issues as a proxy of the social priority of addressing each of them. Although sexual violence is as prevalent as and more costly than are these other major public health issues, it receives a fraction of the public funds that they receive.

When fear becomes the barrier to care.

A pilot clinic run by Barts Health NHS Trust in London offers cervical screening and psychological support to women who have experienced rape or sexual assault but are reluctant to go to a doctor. Its founder Pavan Amara, herself a rape survivor, is about to start nurse training this autumn.

Exposure to violence among women with unwanted pregnancies and the association with post-traumatic stress disorder, symptoms of anxiety and depression.

AIM: The objective was to examine lifetime exposure to violence, physical and sexual, among women seeking termination of pregnancy (TOP) and its association with socio-demographic factors, PTSD, symptoms of anxiety and depression. DESIGN: The design of the study was a Swedish multi-centre study targeting women requesting TOP. METHODS: All women requesting TOP with a gestational length less than 12 pregnancy weeks were approached for participation in the study. The questionnaire comprised the following research instruments: Screen Questionnaire-Post traumatic Stress Disorder (SQ-PTSD) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The response rate was 57% and the final sample was 1514 women. Descriptive and analytic statistics were applied. RESULTS: Lifetime exposure to violence was common among women seeking abortion. Exposure to violence was associated with low education, single marital status, smoking and high alcohol consumption. Exposure to violence was associated with the occurrence of signs of PTSD and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Among those having PTSD, all had been exposed to sexual violence and almost all had been exposed to physical violence, while for those with symptoms of anxiety and depression almost half had been exposed to either physical or sexual violence. CONCLUSION: Exposure to physical and sexual abuse was common among women requesting TOP, and was strongly associated with the occurrence of PTSD, symptoms of anxiety and depression. This underscores the importance for health professionals to recognize and offer support to those women exposed to violence.