Sexual Violence Prevention Program

Sexual violence is a significant public health problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) reports about one in four women and one in nine men were victims of reported completed or attempted rape during their lifetime.[1] In the United States, approximately 33.5 million women and 4.5 million men have been victims of rape or attempted rape at some point in their lives.[2] In addition, 81% of women and 43% of men reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment and/or assault in their lifetime.[3]

The primary prevention of sexual violence offers both social and economic benefits. For example, sexual abuse during childhood impacts healthcare costs across a woman’s lifespan. Health care costs are 16% higher for women who were sexually abused as children and 36% higher for women who were both physically and sexually abused as children.[4] Immediate impacts of rape among female and male victims include contracting a sexually transmitted infection and being injured, and, specifically for female victims, becoming pregnant.[5] The lifetime cost of rape per victim is $122,461.[6]

Sexual violence is preventable. Sexual violence is complex and interconnected with other forms of violence, including intimate partner violence, child maltreatment, bullying, suicidal behavior, and elder abuse. Interventions that target similar root cases at the community and societal levels have the highest potential to reduce the prevalence of SV and other forms of violence.

The Sexual Violence Prevention Program uses a public health approach to prevent sexual violence, as well as uses local and national data to inform other government agencies, non-government organizations, and related communities of practice about the prevalence and scope of the problem and how different forms of violence (sexual violence, child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, intimate partner violence) are interconnected and share common risk and protective factors. To achieve measurable reductions in perpetration and victimization, the Sexual Violence Prevention Program uses the best available evidence from CDC and other national resources for guidance in developing comprehensive programming that incorporates process and outcome evaluation for continuous improvement. By focusing on evidence-based/evidence-informed primary prevention strategies at the individual, relationship, and community levels, the Sexual Violence Prevention Program strives to advance health equity within the social determinants of health framework. Health equity ensures that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health and be free of sexual violence.

City & County of Honolulu: Sex Abuse Treatment Center

Kauai County: YWCA of Kauaʻi

Maui County: Child and Family Services – Maui Sexual Assault Center

Hawaiʻi County: YWCA of Hawaiʻi Island

Initiatives

Nā Leo Kāne

National Resources

CDC Sexual Violence Prevention

CDC Sexual Violence Prevention Resource for Action

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network)

[1] Basile, K.C., Smith, S.G., Kresnow, M., Khatiwada S., & Leemis, R.W. (2022). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2016/2017 Report on Sexual Violence. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/nisvs/nisvsReportonSexualViolence.pdf

[2] Ibid.

[3] Kearl, H. (2018). The facts behind the #metoo movement: A national study on sexual harassment and assault. Stop Street Harassment.

[4] National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. (2012). National Plan to Prevent the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children. Retrieved from http://www.preventtogether.org/Resources/Documents/NationalPlan2012FINAL.pdf

[5] Ibid.

[6] Peterson, C., DeGue, S., Florence, C., & Lokey, C. N. (2017). Lifetime economic burden of rape among U.S. adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Advanced online publication. doi:10.1016/j. amepre.2016.11.014.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH BRANCH