A systematic review of primary prevention strategies for sexual violence perpetration

Abstract

This systematic review examined 140 outcome evaluations of primary prevention strategies for sexual violence perpetration. The review had two goals: 1) to describe and assess the breadth, quality, and evolution of evaluation research in this area; and 2) to summarize the best available research evidence for sexual violence prevention practitioners by categorizing programs with regard to their evidence of effectiveness on sexual violence behavioral outcomes in a rigorous evaluation. The majority of sexual violence prevention strategies in the evaluation literature are brief, psycho-educational programs focused on increasing knowledge or changing attitudes, none of which have shown evidence of effectiveness on sexually violent behavior using a rigorous evaluation design. Based on evaluation studies included in the current review, only three primary prevention strategies have demonstrated significant effects on sexually violent behavior in a rigorous outcome evaluation: Safe Dates (Foshee et al., 2004); Shifting Boundaries (building-level intervention only, Taylor, Stein, Woods, Mumford, & Forum, 2011); and funding associated with the 1994 U.S. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA; Boba & Lilley, 2009). The dearth of effective prevention strategies available to date may reflect a lack of fit between the design of many of the existing programs and the principles of effective prevention identified by Nation et al. (2003).

Care of the Adolescent After an Acute Sexual Assault

“…Current approaches include aggressive education about sexual violence that seeks to change attitudes, knowledge, and culture, but evidence to identify best practices that reduce sexual violence perpetration is minimal. 137,138 A recent Cochrane review examined 38 studies of educational or skillsbased interventions for preventing relationship and dating violence in adolescents and young adults. The results showed no evidence that the programs enhanced skills to prevent relationship violence or decreased relationship violence.…”

Stopping rape

“…One of the most robust evaluations of interventions in the criminal justice system is that of Boba and Lilley (2009) concerning the consequences of the Violence Against Women Act 1994 funding (DeGue et al, 2014). This showed that the US$1.6 billion federal funding had a demonstrable effect in reducing the rate of rape, largely due to improved law enforcement.…”

“…The WHO (2014b, p 77) find that 'few programmes have been rigorously evaluated.' In a systematic review of strategies to prevent sexual violence perpetration, DeGue et al (2014) found that the majority of the interventions noted in the 140 outcome evaluation studies reviewed were brief psycho-educational programmes focused on increasing knowledge or changing attitudes, none of which had been shown to be effective when a rigorous 'public health' method of evaluation was used. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Breiding et al, 2014) finds that little is known about what works to prevent sexual violence, noting that only one programme had been shown to prevent sexual violence perpetration.…”

“…There is increasing interest in the contribution of public health programmes to the development of educational and awarenessraising programmes that may change attitudes conducive to rape (WHO, 2013d;DeGue et al, 2014;Holmes and Bhuvanendra, 2014;Walden and Wall, 2014). For sexual assault awareness month in 2014, the US National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC, 2014) provided a brief that explicated health professionals and health services' role in prevention as raising awareness by displaying information (posters and brochures) about sexual violence and local resources; developing mutually collaborative relationships and referral pathways with local specialist sexual violence services and rape crisis centres; working with others to improve the quality and profile of healthcare following sexual violence and rape; and sponsoring and participating in community awareness and prevention initiatives.…”

Changing Course: From a Victim/Offender Duality to a Public Health Perspective

“…In recent years there has been a growing movement towards a more comprehensive public health understanding and response to sexual violence, focusing on the importance of prevention efforts (Casey & Lindhorst, 2009;DeGue et al, 2014;Lee et al, 2007;Nation et al, 2003;Tabachnick and Klein, 2011). As awareness of and interest in prevention efforts increase, the public has become more engaged and asking for more accurate information about those who abuse, supporting the need for programs that prevent the perpetration of sexual abuse.…”