Multiple perpetrator rape among girls evaluated at a hospital-based Child Advocacy Center: Seven years of reviewed cases

Abstract

The aim of this study was to describe contextual events, abuse experiences, and disclosure processes of adolescents who presented to a hospital-based Child Advocacy Center for medical evaluation and evidentiary collection as indicated after experiencing multiple perpetrator rape during a single event (n = 32) and to compare these findings to a group of single perpetrator sexual assaults (n = 534). This study used a retrospective mixed-methods design with in-depth, forensic interviews and complete physical examinations of gang-raped adolescents. Patients ranged from 12 to 17 years (M = 14 years). Girls who experienced multiple perpetrator rape during a single event were more likely to have run away, to have drunk alcohol in the past month, and to have participated in binge drinking in the past 2 weeks. Acute presentation of these victims were rare but 30% had hymenal transections and 38% had sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Forensic interviews revealed alcohol was a common weapon used by offenders, and its use resulted in victims experiencing difficulty in remembering and reporting details for police investigation or physical and mental health care. Most victims were raped at parties they attended with people they thought they could trust, and they felt let down by witnesses who could have helped but did not intervene. Although relatively rare, multiple perpetrator rape during a single event is a type of severe sexual assault experience and has significant risks for deleterious health outcomes. These victims require health care by trained providers to diagnose physical findings, treat STIs, screen for trauma, and support victims.

Assessing exploitation experiences of girls and boys seen at a Child Advocacy Center

“…As in other studies ( Adams et al, 2007 ; Edinburgh, Saewyc, Thao, & Levitt, 2006 ) most sexually exploited girls in this study did not have gynecologic findings of penetrating trauma even though they had experienced this severe form of child abuse. One in 5 did, however, have transections of their hymen, which is similar to rates found among victims of gang rape ( Edinburgh, Pape-Blabolil, Harpin, & Saewyc, 2014 ). A high rate of sexually transmitted infection was also identified during health evaluations of sexually exploited youth.…”

Post‐exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection in sexual assault victims

“…Furthermore, any sexual exposure is considered to carry a risk when a condom is not used or is broken. The risk of HIV acquisition increases exponentially in the presence of factors such as genital trauma, genital ulcers, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), high viral load, blood exposure, ejaculation and rape by multiple assailants . In cases where the victim of an SA had known the assailant for > 24 h, it was found that the perception of risk was lower and the victim tended to consider the use of PEP unnecessary .…”

Blame Attributions in Multiple Perpetrator Rape Cases: The Impact of Sympathy, Consent, Force, and Beliefs

“…This study aims to shed light on attribution of victim and perpetrator blame in rape cases and investigate whether and how these attributions are affected by the number of perpetrators (Experiment 1), and the level of force used by the perpetrators (Experiment 2). Most rapes occur in the victim’s own home, the perpetrator’s home, or at social gatherings they have attended with people they thought they could trust (e.g., Edinburgh, Pape-Blabolil, Harpin, & Saewyc, 2014; Lovett & Horvath, 2013), and we will, therefore, investigate attribution of blame in a home party setting. Although attributions of blame in MPR cases have not previously been experimentally investigated, there are reasons to believe that victim-blaming behavior and attitudes might be influenced by the number of perpetrators committing the crime.…”