Experiences of sexual violence among women seeking services at a family planning unit in Sweden

Abstract

Background: Experiences of sexual violence among women can lead to ill health and increase the risk of lifetime co-occurrence of violence. Identifying risk factors and victims facilitates development of effective programmes for treatment and prevention of additional violence. The primary aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and correlates of sexual violence experiences among women seeking care at a family planning unit in Sweden. A secondary aim was to examine associations between sexual violence and other types of violence. Methods: Women ( n = 1226) seeking services at a family planning unit, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden, answered a questionnaire and were interviewed about experiences of sexual violence. Bivariate associations were examined using the chi-square test. Results: Experiences of sexual violence were reported by 27% of the participants, of which 57% were exposed when they were younger than 18 years old. Women with experiences of sexual violence were more likely to have lower education ( P = 0.024), were students or without occupation ( P = 0.037), and were not in a current relationship ( P < 0.001). Women with experiences of non-partner sexual violence were more likely to have experiences of intimate partner violence ( P < 0.001). Conclusion: Prevalence of sexual violence was high among the respondents. Many women were young when they were exposed to violence, and lifetime co-occurrence of violence was common among women with experiences of non-partner sexual violence.

Intimate partner sexual violence and violent victimisation among women living homeless in Madrid (Spain)

“…There also appears to be a particularly strong association between having suffered sexual abuse before and after the age of 18, both inside and outside the family environment and becoming a victim of IPSV. It is therefore essential to look at this problem in a collective about which there are few studies of this nature (Fernández‐Rasines & Gámez‐Ramos, 2013), probing deeper into patterns influencing the suffering of IPSV, an issue as yet understudied (Öberg et al, 2019; Pengpid et al, 2018). Among women living homeless, the distancing from their family at an early age, a shortage of available social support and the situation of poverty and exclusion that they suffer may contribute to dependence on their partners.…”

Sexual Violence Prevalence Against Girls and Women: A Case of Meru District Council

“…According to Vyas (2021), among 15-23-year-old females who had ever had sex, 17.5% reported they had experienced physical violence and 5.2% reported having experienced sexual violence by a male partner in the last 6 months, mainly sexual harassment. Further, Oberg et al (2019) contend that women and girls experiencing sexual harassment had 9 or fewer years of education, were students or without occupation.…”

Midwives and women's perspectives on family planning in Jordan: human rights, gender equity, decision-making and power dynamics

“…In India, the level of education and awareness as well as women empowerment could influence physical violence in regards to the use of contraception ( Singh and Shukla, 2017 ). In Sweden, 27% of women with low educational level seeking FP services experienced sexual violence ( Öberg et al., 2019 ). Conflicting with our findings, a meta-analysis found a negative relationship between the use of MFPM and inter partner violence with a reduction in the use of condoms among women experiencing violence ( Maxwell et al., 2015 ).…”