An examination of SANE data

Abstract

The current study analyzes adult female sexual assault data, collected by sexual assault nurse examiners (SANEs) in New Hampshire, United States, between 1997 and 2007. The purposes of this study were to (1) explore the relationship between patient and assailant, (2) examine patients' physical findings according to assailant type, (3) describe characteristics of both the patients and the assaults, and (4) make care recommendations. Secondary analysis was conducted on data gathered by SANEs from responses to a standardized questionnaire based on the medical/forensic examination of each patient over an 11-year period. Of the 741 women in this study, 53% were sexually assaulted by a nonstranger, 18% were assaulted by an intimate partner, and 11% were assaulted by a stranger. The relationship between patient and assailant is an important variable that requires SANEs to take a closer look at assessing for lethality, and assisting with safety planning, intervention, and treatment for victims.

Characteristics of Child Sexual Assault Within a Child Advocacy Center Client Population

“…In this study, relatives comprised the majority of perpetrators in all age groups, with 62% of the 2 to 5 year old group experiencing CSA by a relative compared to 33% by an acquaintance. A similar finding was reported by Murphy et al (2010); for children younger than 6 years old; 44% of perpetrators were relatives compared to 3 8% acquaintances.…”

“…The vast majority of children in this study knew their perpetrators, which is widely documented in the literature (Douglas & Finkelhor, 2005;Murphy et al, 2010). Studies estimate that 50% of perpetrators are acquaintances; the estimate for relatives is more disparate (14% to 47%) (Douglas & Finkelhor, 2005;Murphy et al, 2010). In this study, relatives comprised the majority of perpetrators in all age groups, with 62% of the 2 to 5 year old group experiencing CSA by a relative compared to 33% by an acquaintance.…”

“…After reviewing relevant literature, the victims were grouped into three age categories: 2 to 5 years old, 6 to 10 years old, and 11 to I 7 years old (Finkelhor et al, 2009;Murphy et al, 2010). Following the categorization scheme of Martin and Silverstone (2013) the cases were initially grouped into four CSA categories or types.…”

“…However, forensic nurses and their co11eagues need information related to CSA characteristics within their communities in order to -effectively advocate for and respond to the needs of child victims and their families (Murphy, Potter, Stapleton, Wiesen-Martin, & Pierce-Weeks, 2010). Child Advocacy Centers offer a potential source of data for investigating the scope and characteristics of CSA in a local community.…”

role of the victim-assailant relationship in sexual assault case attrition

“…Very few studies explore the characteristics associated with acquaintance sexual assault. The ones that do often find that acquaintance sexual assault victims are younger (Logan et al, 2007;Stermac et al, 2001), they are more likely to be under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of the assault (Logan et al, 2007;Moller et al, 2012;Stermac et al, 2001), and they are more likely to seek help within 24 hours of the assault when compared to intimate partner sexual assault victims (Murphy et al, 2011). In a study using data from 331 women who sought treatment in an emergency room between 2001 and 2004, Logan et al (2007) found that acquaintances were more likely to experience non-genital injuries when compared to victims who had recently met (within 24 hours) their assailant but not when compared to stranger or intimate partner sexual assault victims.…”