Somatic health of 2500 women examined at a sexual assault center over 10 years

M. Dawn Larsen · Malene Hilden · Charlotte Wessel Skovlund · Øjvind Lidegaard

24 citations0/0 files storedActa Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica

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Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies Intimate Partner and Family Violence Child Abuse and Trauma

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sexual assault is a public health issue with many potential short- and long-term consequences for the victims. We aimed to investigate somatic health of women before and after sexual assault. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 2501 women who attended the Centre for Victims of Sexual Assault in Copenhagen, and 10004 women without a known assault experience (controls). Somatic diagnoses were retrieved from the National Health Registry and number of visits to general practitioners from the Danish Health Insurance Registry. Somatic data were assessed during the five-year period before and after the assault. RESULTS: The incidence of several somatic disorders was found to be significantly higher for the exposed women than for controls, both before and after the assault. Rate ratios of main disorders before and after the assault were respectively: disease of circulatory and respiratory system: 3.2 (2.6-4.1) and 2.6 (2.1-3.2); epilepsy: 2.9 (2.2-3.8) and 4.1 (3.0-5.6) and disease of the liver: 3.5 (1.9-6.3) and 7.0 (4.4-11.1), respectively. The rate ratios of laparoscopic surgery: 1.5 (0.9-2.5) and 3.4 (2.3-5.0) and of cervical cancer: 0.8 (0.4-1.7) and 2.0 (1.4-3.0) increased significantly after sexual assault. Likewise, the number of visits to a general practitioner was significantly higher in exposed women both before and after the assault (16 vs. 10/year). Complications associated with childbirth were not statistically different between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a higher somatic morbidity in women seen at a sexual assault center before as well as after the assault compared with controls.

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References

1998Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults 2012The Long-Term Health Consequences of Child Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2001A Meta-Analysis of the Published Research on the Effects of Child Sexual Abuse 2009The impact of child sexual abuse on health: A systematic review of reviews 2009Sexual Abuse and Lifetime Diagnosis of Somatic Disorders 2007Childhood and adolescent sexual abuse and subsequent sexual risk behavior: Evidence from controlled studies, methodological critique, and suggestions for research 1992Somatic consequences of violence against women 2009Violence against Women Raises Risk of Cervical Cancer

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2018Changes in Psychiatric and Medical Conditions and Health Care Utilization Following a Diagnosis of Sexual Assault 2020Factors Associated With Law Enforcement Reporting in Patients Presenting for Medical Forensic Examinations 2025The health effects associated with physical, sexual and psychological gender-based violence against men and women: a Burden of Proof study

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