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Published on: September 22, 2023
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Association Between Lifetime Sexual Violence and Recent Traumatic Brain Injury Among Adults: 2017 Connecticut
Dana Waltzman1, Jill Daugherty1, Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa1
1National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|October 7, 2023
Summary
Individuals who experienced sexual violence (SV) have double the odds of reporting a recent traumatic brain injury (TBI). This highlights a critical public health link between SV and TBI risk.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Neuroscience
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Sexual violence (SV) is a significant public health issue with severe physical and mental health consequences.
- SV-related health-risk behaviors may increase susceptibility to traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- TBI can cause lasting cognitive, behavioral, and mental health impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between lifetime sexual violence (SV) victimization and the risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
- To determine if SV increases the likelihood of TBI, given the high prevalence of SV and TBI's detrimental effects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2017 Connecticut Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
- Conducted an exploratory analysis examining lifetime SV victimization and recent TBI reports.
- Controlled for age and sex in the statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- Lifetime SV victimization was associated with a more than twofold increased odds of reporting a recent TBI in the past 12 months (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI [1.03, 4.21]).
- The findings suggest a significant link between past sexual violence and recent TBI.
Conclusions:
- Sexual violence victimization may be a risk factor for sustaining traumatic brain injury.
- Further research is essential to elucidate the relationship between SV history and TBI risk.
- Healthcare providers should offer resources to SV survivors to mitigate associated health risks.
