HJBR Jul/Aug 2024

24 JUL / AUG 2024 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE   on their self-reported effects of these experiences. The findings from the LaVEX survey were previously published in our 2023 Louisiana Study on Violence Experiences (LaVEX) Report. 3 Detailed methods on sampling and analyses are also provided in that report. RESULTS Lifetime Experience of Sexual Violence We found that almost half of all women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime (see Fig. 1). Approximately 1 in 6 women (16%) has experienced forced sex or rape. While the most common form of sexual harassment is verbal sexual harassment, reported by 2 in every 5 women, second most common is physically aggressive sex- ual harassment, which can include “some- one flashing or exposing their genitals to you without your permission. This can also include someone purposely touching you or brushing up against you in an unwelcome, sexual way.” Importantly, these experiences are not uncommon early in life. • One in 14 (8%) Louisianans experi- enced sexual violence in childhood (age 0-12). • One in 5 (21%) experienced sexual vio- lence in adolescence (age 13-17). • One in 4 (33%) experienced sexual vio- lence in young adulthood (age 18-24). • One in 5 (30%) experienced sexual vio- lence in adulthood (age 25+). Past-Year Experiences of Sexual Violence More than 1 in 9 women in Louisiana (12%) — amounting to more than 210,000 women in the state — experienced sexual violence in the past year (see Fig. 2), mostly in the form of verbal and cyber sexual harassment (6% and 4%, respectively). One in every 100 women in Louisiana were raped in the past year, and one in every 100 women experienced quid pro quo sex, which can include trafficking. Perpetrators of Sexual Violence We also assessed who did this to them. For women reporting past-year verbal, cyber, or trans/homophobic harassment, we find that strangers were the most common perpetrators (71%), but for those reporting more contact-focused physically aggres- sive, coercive, or forced sexual behavior, perpetrators were most often someone known to the woman — a partner (44%) or an acquaintance (36%) (See Table 1). Location of Sexual Violence Incidents We additionally asked where the inci- dents of sexual violence in the past year occurred. Respondents most often reported that sexual violence in the past year occurred at home (their own home or the home of someone known to them) or in a public space such as a neighborhood, park, or on the street (see Fig. 3). Physi- cally aggressive, coercive, or forced sex- ual behavior occurred most frequently in a home for women (68%), corresponding with the perpetrators of these abuses being their BACKGROUND Sexual violence is a major health and human rights concern in the United States. However, it is often swept under the rug due to the embarrassment or shame many victims of sexual violence feel, and some- times due to inadequate recognition of what constitutes sexual violence and how per- vasive it is. We know that sexual violence is associated with numerous medical con- cerns including pelvic pain, depression, and anxiety, but health providers often do not assess patients’ experiences of sexual vio- lence despite it being a major risk factor for both poor physical and mental health out- comes. 1 In fact, there is yet to be a validated tool to measure such patients’ experiences in clinical settings. 2 In this report, we offer data on experi- ences of sexual violence reported by a state representative sample of women in Loui- siana, through a study conducted by the Newcomb Institute at Tulane University. This study, known as the Louisiana Study on Violence Experiences Across the Lifes- pan (LaVEX) survey, offers first-time insight into the existing reality of violence experi- enced by adults in the state. It is the only survey providing these recent data at state level.3 This report examines lifetime and past-year experiences of violence among Louisianans using LaVEX 2023 data from 1,081 adult (age 18+) state resident respon- dents surveyed from May to June 2023; half our sample were women. We provide data on women’s reported experiences of sexual violence, ranging from sexual harassment and sexual degradation to sexual coer- cion and assault. We also include findings In the last issue, a staggering statistic from CDC caught our attention: 1 in 4 women in America have experienced sexual assault in the form of rape or attempted rape. Newcomb Institute at Tulane University, led by Professor Anita Raj, has been uncovering the harsh realities faced by women in Louisiana regarding sexual assault. Here, we publish their piece and a few follow- up questions in hopes that raising awareness will help put an end to this madness, encourage our local media to cover this critical topic more extensively, and help you, as a healthcare professional, understand that more patients than you realize may have experienced these types of violence. Together, we can not only work to prevent such incidents, but also support and heal those who have been traumatized in the most personal way.