Recorded presentation

Elizabeth Reed, MPH¹, Carter Pratt, MPH¹, and Jay G. Silverman, PhD². (1) Violence Prevention and Intervention Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 4th floor, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5452, Elizabeth.Reed@state.ma.us, (2) Department of Society, Human Development & Health/Division of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Kresge 705A, Boston, MA 02115

Introduction: Sexual violence has become increasingly recognized as an important and prevalent public health problem due to its negative impact on the psychological, social, and health outcomes of survivors. The purpose of this study is to determine predictors related to the following service utilization and help-seeking behaviors: medical care provision, performance of evidence collection, time between assault and report, to whom the assault was reported, and by whom the client was referred to the rape crisis center.

Methods: The database consists of characteristics of sexual assaults reported to rape crisis centers between 1998 and 2003 via services such as the hotline and medical advocacy for assault victims who present at emergency rooms. Data are limited to first reports of sexual assault reported by female sexual assault victims in Massachusetts. Crude estimates and analyses adjusted for univariate predictors were modeled using logistic regression. Subjects who were missing data on an outcome variable were deleted from subsequent analyses of that outcome. All categorical data were coded as indicator variables. Missing data were included as separate indicator variable categories and present in the regression equations.

Results/Discussion: Predictors of service utilization, service seeking, and characteristics of assault incidents among female sexual assault victims who contact state-funded rape crisis centers for support will be discussed. Application of these findings will be described in terms of evaluating and informing current service delivery efforts, with the ultimate goal of providing evidence-based recommendations for improving service provision and outreach efforts.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Describe the characteristics of sexual victimization incidents and predictors of service seeking and service utilization among females who have contacted state-funded rape crisis centers in Massachusetts between 1998 and 2003 to report an incident of sexual victimization.
• Recognize the implications of these findings in terms of increasing existing knowledge of barriers to service seeking and service utilization and ultimately, informing service providers and tailoring services to better meet the needs of women and girls who seek support from state-funded rape crisis centers in Massachusetts.
• Develop a plan that aims to optimize service provision and outreach efforts in a manner that reflects the patterns of service utilization and service seeking behavior representative of the subgroups of girls and women who have reported a sexual assault to a state-funded rape crisis center between 1998-2003.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation