Sexual Assault Injuries

C. Carter-Snell (2007) Understanding Women's Risks for Injuries from Sexual Assault. Doctoral dissertation. Edmonton: University of Alberta.

This research was designed to identify current knowledge and gaps in knowledge related to sexual assault injuries and factors that impact the risks for injury from a sexual assault. The dissertation is presented in 4 parts:

  • an introduction to the issue of injuries in sexual assault and their consequences;
  • a systematic review of the available research on sexual assault injuries and associated risks;
  • testing of a theory on risks for injury and resulting genital or nongenital injury, using data from a Canadian sexual assault team; and
  • a synthesis of the results of the systematic review and theory testing and implications for practice, research and education

M. Biggs, L.E. Stermac and M. Divinsky. (1998)  Genital injuries following sexual assault of women with and without prior sexual intercourse experience.
Canadian medical Association Journal, 159(1), 33-37.

Available in pdf at http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/159/1/33.

This was a study by retrospective chart review of 132 women (aged 15-64 years) who had been secually assaulted and who sought medical treatment at the Sexual Asault Care Centre (SACC), Women's College Hospital, Toronto. The women were seen within 10 days after the assault. Approximately 1/2 had not had prior sexual intercourse before the assault. Chart review included the type of injuries (nonperforating soft-tissue injuries, lacerations or current bleeding) and location (labia majora and minora, posterior fourchette and introitus, hymen, vagina, cervix, and anus). The researchers concluded that significantly women without prior sexual intercourse experience had visible genital injuries compared to those with prior experience (65.2% v. 25.8%, p < 0.01), although the hymen was only involved in approximately 9% of these women. When injuries in any location were examined, there was no significant difference in the overall mean number of injured sites between those with and without prior sexual intercourse experience. There was an average of 1.65 sites of injury in those without experience and 1.47 sites in those with experience.  

Minimizing/Preventing Secondary Wounding:

Provided courtesy of the Avalon Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Voice of Date Rape

An article by Janice Goldblatt - The Voice of Date Rape a member of the Voices and Faces Project

Overcoming Sexual Assault Myths and Stereotypes

What's New

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Sexual Offence Courts: A Presentation by Irene Smith, Director, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre on behalf of the Women’s Innovative Justice Initiative (10 Nov 2009)

Drug Facilitated Assault

Factors associated with suspected drug facilitated sexual assault

Drug-facilitated sexual assault

Suspected Drugging in Surprising Number of Sexual Assault Cases