Responding to sexual assault victims' medical and emotional needs: A national study of the services provided by SANE programs

Abstract

We measured the consistency with which a national random sample of 110 Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) programs provided 17 services to sexual assault victims. SANE programs consistently offered forensic evidence collection, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prophylaxis, information on HIV, information on pregnancy risk, and referrals to community resources. Reasons programs did not routinely offer particular services (e.g., STI cultures, HIV testing/prophylaxis, emergency contraception (EC)) included financial constraints, difficulties balancing medical care with legal prosecution, and affiliations with Catholic hospitals.

African American and White Women’s Experience of Sexual Assault and Services for Sexual Assault

“…Survivors of SA suffer more negative psychological outcomes than other crime victims (Petrak, 2002), and might suffer from severe posttraumatic stress symptoms for years or decades following the assault (see Kiump, 2006, for review). Additional long-term outcomes associated with survivors who do not seek intervention include depression, anxiety, substance use problems, and chronic health problems (see Campbell et al, 2006;Kilpatrick & Acierno, 2003;Ullman, Filipas, Townsend, & Starzynski, 2007).…”

Nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis following sexual assault in industrialized low-HIV-prevalence countries: A review

“…Health care provider surveys including frequency of offering post-sexual assault services found similar rates (38%) of reported baseline HIV testing among SANEs (Campbell et al, 2006) and EDs (Patel, Panchal, Piotrowski, & Patel, 2008), with higher rates (58-88%) for pediatric practitioners (Babl et al, 2001). In contrast, a greater proportion (41%) of a nationally representative SANE program sample (Campbell et al, 2006) reported offering nPEP than Illinois (28%; Patel et al, 2008) and Massachusetts EDs (28%; Kunches, Meehan, Boutwell, & McGuire, 2001).…”

“…In contrast, a greater proportion (41%) of a nationally representative SANE program sample (Campbell et al, 2006) reported offering nPEP than Illinois (28%; Patel et al, 2008) and Massachusetts EDs (28%; Kunches, Meehan, Boutwell, & McGuire, 2001). While more pediatric ED physicians and infectious disease specialists reported HIV baseline testing, a smaller proportion reported having ever offered nPEP (14-27%) (Babl et al, 2001).…”

“…Becker, 2008;Straight & Heaton, 2007). Prior to CDC guidelines, baseline testing rates ranged from 11% of SANE programs reporting testing every patient every time (Campbell et al, 2006) to approximately 20% of Rhode Island EDs (Merchant et al, 2008). Campbell et al (2006) also reported that 3% of SANE programs provided testing ''most of the time'' and 24% of SANE programs provided testing ''if requested'' (a total of 38%, see Table 1).…”

“…Four studies reported the frequency of baseline HIV testing (Bechtel, Ryan, & Gallagher, 2008;Campbell et al, 2006;Merchant, Phillips, Delong, Mayer, & (2007) 172 - Garcia et al (2005) 347 278 (80%) Kerr et al (2003) 676 - Limb et al (2002) 150 10 (6%) Reeves et al (2004) 92 - Rey et al (2008) 98 -Sonder et al (2007) 29 - Templeton et al (2005) 146 117 (80%) Wiebe et al (2000) 258 -Studies with US populations conducted pre-CDC guidelines Linden et al (2005) 181 167 (92%) Merchant et al (2008) 780 610 (78%) Merchant et al (2003) 461 286 (62%) Moe and Grau (2001) 58 48 (82%) Myles et al (2000) 376 354 (94%) Pesola et al (1999) 27 - Straight and Heaton (2007) 179,149 -Note: *The percentage reflects the number of patients eligible out of the total sample size. Becker, 2008;Straight & Heaton, 2007).…”