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Rape and Sexual Coercion Related Pregnancy in the United States
Denise V D'Angelo1, Yang Liu2, Kathleen C Basile1
1Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
Over 5.9 million U.S. women experienced pregnancy from rape or sexual coercion. Non-Hispanic Multiracial women had higher prevalence, and victims faced significant health issues and safety concerns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Sociology
Background:
- Sexual violence is a significant public health issue in the U.S.
- Rape and sexual coercion can lead to unintended pregnancies.
- Previous estimates indicated millions of women experienced rape-related pregnancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide recent estimates of pregnancy resulting from rape or sexual coercion in the U.S.
- To examine the prevalence of these pregnancies across different demographic groups.
- To understand the associated health and safety outcomes for victims.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the 2016/2017 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.
- Analyzed lifetime experiences of rape-related pregnancy and sexual coercion-related pregnancy among U.S. women.
- Calculated prevalence estimates and used chi-square tests for demographic comparisons.
Main Results:
- Over 5.9 million women (1 in 20) experienced pregnancy from rape, sexual coercion, or both.
- Non-Hispanic Multiracial women showed higher prevalence compared to other racial/ethnic groups.
- Victims of rape-related pregnancy reported high rates of STDs, injuries, and fear for safety.
Conclusions:
- An estimated six million U.S. women experience pregnancy due to sexual violence.
- Healthcare screenings for violence exposure are recommended.
- Evidence-based prevention strategies are crucial to reduce sexual violence.
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