Sexual Violence and Assault in Rural Australia: A Scoping Review of Regional, Rural, and Remote Contexts

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Criminology

Background:

• Sexual violence (SV) causes significant physical, emotional, and psychological trauma.
• SV is a pervasive issue in regional, rural, and remote Australia.
• SV prevalence may be higher in non-metropolitan areas compared to urban settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing research on sexual violence in regional, rural, and remote Australia.
• To identify key themes and challenges related to SV in these specific geographic areas.
• To assess the impact of public health campaigns on SV in non-metropolitan regions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O'Malley framework.
• Twenty-five articles published between 1996 and 2024 were included.
• The Mixed Methods Assessment Tool was used for appraisal, followed by thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Consistent findings across studies indicate limited meaningful change in SV despite public health initiatives.
• SV is widespread in rural, remote, and regional Australia, with some forms more prevalent than in urban areas.
• Significant challenges include barriers to disclosure, help-seeking, service delivery, and response to violence.

Conclusions:

• Rural, remote, and regional communities face unique challenges regarding sexual violence.
• Despite awareness campaigns, sexual violence remains a persistent issue in these areas.
• Barriers to support services and effective responses require urgent attention.