When considering preventative strategies for sexual assaults, it is very important that risk factors, such as age and alcohol consumption, are addressed, a new study suggested.
This study was conducted by researchers from the Centre for Victims of Sexual Assault Department and the University of Copenhagen. For the study, researchers used data from 2541 women participants attending the specialized Centre for Victims of Sexual Assault (CVSA) in Copenhagen for sexual assault or attempted sexual assault between March 2001 and December 2010.
The data revealed that 66 percent of the women were in the age bracket of 15-24 years old, and 75 percent had met the perpetrator before the sexual assault, according to Medical Xpress. Nearly 50 percent reported that the perpetrator was a current or former boyfriend, family member or someone they considered a friend.
"Our results challenge the typical stereotype of a violent rape attack by a stranger, which is important in creating an environment where women are not reluctant to seek help after a sexual assault," Dr. Mie-Louise Larsen, from the CVSA and the University of Copenhagen and co-author of the study, said in a press statement.
"We need to raise awareness of the fact that most sexual assaults are perpetrated by someone known to the woman, often in familiar surroundings. Many victims will not sustain a physical or anogenital injury. In order to change the general attitudes towards sexual assault, this information should not only target young people, but also the police, healthcare professionals and the general public."
When researchers analyzed alcohol consumption data, they found that over 40 percent of women had consumed more than 5 units of alcohol. These women were more often sexually assaulted by a stranger or someone they met within 24 hours prior to the assault.
"Identifying risk factors for sexual assault is vital for both the prevention of assaults and the improvement of early interventions," Patrick Chien, BJOG deputy editor-in-chief added. "The results of this study suggest young age and drinking alcohol were risk factors for sexual assault. The study provides us with further insight and explores the circumstances in which sexual assaults occur, which women are vulnerable in which settings and identifies the most important contributory factors to help with the development of measures to prevent sexual assault."
Findings of the study were published online in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (BJOG).
