NCJ Number
134550
Date Published
1991
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This paper addresses the concerns of rape survivors and health care providers regarding the appropriate response to the potential for a rape survivor to become infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) as a result of the rape.
Abstract
In a study of 97 adult sexual assault survivors, the Sexual Assault Resource Service (SARS) in Minneapolis found that concern about STD's ranked second to concern to collect evidence of the crime among factors that motivated rape victims to seek emergency medical help. SARS recently reviewed the records of 1,007 adult sexual assault victims seen in the emergency department by the SARS nurse within 72 hours of a sexual assault. Of the cases in which there was sexual penetration, 16 percent had an STD upon initial examination. When a rape victim comes into a clinic or hospital emergency room after a sexual assault, there are two primary options for addressing concerns about STD's. The health care provider can test for STD's, or prophylactic treatment can be provided. STD testing can avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics for uninfected persons, and it also provides any STD information for use as evidence. Prophylactic antibiotic treatment eliminates the need to take cultures, and there is no need for the victim to return to the clinic for followup visits. It also relieves a victim's fear of contracting a STD. SARS does not routinely do STD cultures in the emergency room; rather rape survivors are offered prophylactic antibiotics. 1 table and 13 references