Forced intercourse in America: a pandemic update

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Forced intercourse is prevalent among U.S. women, often leading to unintended pregnancies.
• Previous data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) did not capture rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Recent prevalence data on forced intercourse is limited, especially concerning pandemic-era trends.

Purpose of the Study:

• To document trends in forced intercourse prevalence among U.S. women from 2011 to 2022.
• To assess recent prevalence rates, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To identify demographic factors associated with higher rates of forced intercourse.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multiple nationally-representative, cross-sectional surveys from 2011-2022.
• Included data from the National Survey of Family Growth, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Transition into Adulthood Supplement, and the American Family Health Study (AFHS).
• Calculated population estimates for forced intercourse prevalence.

Main Results:

• Forced intercourse rates remained high during the pandemic; over 25% of U.S. females over 40 reported lifetime forced intercourse in the AFHS.
• A significant increase in forced intercourse was observed among females aged 24-28 (p < 0.05).
• Females who did not complete college had significantly higher rates of forced intercourse compared to those with higher education levels.

Conclusions:

• Forced intercourse rates among U.S. women were high during the pandemic and increased significantly in early adulthood.
• This exposure is associated with increased unintended pregnancies.
• Potential for other sexual, reproductive, and mental health problems exists due to forced intercourse.