NCJ Number
195659
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 8 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 585-596
Date Published
May 2002
Length
12 pages
Annotation
Rape by an intimate partner was the focus of this study of 47 rape victims who were sampled across 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months post assault periods and classified for index rape, prior rape and physical assault, and new rape and physical assault by relationship to their perpetrators.
Abstract
The study was done to identify overlapping patterns of violence not usually asked about of rape victims when they present to the hospital. It was reported that at the initial medical exam, 17 women were past victims of domestic violence, and during the 6 months following the exam, 6 women were victims of intimate partner violence. The rape victims were met by rape crisis center volunteers within 72 hours of arriving for medical treatment and later interviewed by study personnel, all Ph.D. or master's-level clinical psychologists. The incidents surveyed included physical assault and rape, index rape (the recent rape), prior rape and physical assault, and new incidents of rape and physical assaults at 3 months and 6 months post index assault. It was found that for the index rape, 75 percent reported stranger rape, 6.4 percent reported ex-husband or ex-boyfriend rape, and 19 percent friend or other non-relative rape. Rates of physical assault were higher. New incidents of rape and physical assault were studied at 3 months and 6 months, with overlap between physical assault and rape being measured. Overall it was suggested that rape victims seeking immediate medical treatment following a rape were likely to have a history of victimization and were at risk of experiencing new sexual and physical assaults. It was noted that the findings might not be generalizable to the broader population of rape victims or those who do not receive medical treatment as the study group was limited in size, age, racial composition, and economic background. However, the goal of this study was to encourage cross-training of health care workers in the fields of domestic violence and sexual assault to enable them to provide interventions suitable to multiple types of victimization. Brief assessment tools which screen for intimate partner violence and other sexual assault and physical assault history of recent rape victims are recommended for use in medical settings as early interventions can prevent revictimization. Table, references