Barriers to Seeking Healthcare Services After Sexual Assault: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Sexual violence remains a prevalent public health issue in the United States.
• Post-sexual assault healthcare services are underutilized by survivors.
• Vulnerable populations, including immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and Black women, face unique barriers to accessing care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing research on barriers to post-sexual assault healthcare.
• To identify methodologies used in this research area.
• To understand if barriers differ for vulnerable populations seeking sexual assault services.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed literature published before September 2023.
• Searches conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and PTSDpubs databases.
• Included studies focused on sexual violence survivors in the United States and explored barriers to post-assault care, such as sexual assault nurse examiners.

Main Results:

• The majority of studies utilized qualitative or mixed-methods designs.
• Research frequently focused on underserved minority groups, including immigrant women, Black women, and homeless youth.
• Identified barriers operate on intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and societal levels.

Conclusions:

• Multilevel barriers significantly contribute to survivors not seeking necessary help.
• While more research is needed on specific barriers to sexual assault services, current findings support enhanced, multilevel approaches to service delivery.
• Strengthening accessible and culturally competent services is crucial for improving healthcare utilization among survivors.