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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2023) | Viewed by 11349

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Kristen M. Zgoba

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Guest Editor

Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Florida International University, Miami, FL 32816, USA
Interests: sexual violence; sexual violence legislation; reentry; rehabilitation and recidivism; corrections

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sexual violence is a common form of abuse in the United States and abroad. Across the globe, official statistics signal that sexual abuse is a public health crisis, inflicting victimization on millions of individuals every year. The risk of victimization is high across the lifespan as 1 in 3 women, 1 in 4 men, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Sexual violence impacts every community and affects people of all genders, sexual orientations and ages. The consequences of sexual violence reverberate across victims’ mental, behavioral, and physical health, opportunities, and overall wellbeing. However, advances in knowledge and research into the causes of, context of and responses to sexual abuse and sexual violence show the potential for better understanding, addressing, and preventing this global public health problem.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge and advances in research on sexual violence. New empirical research papers, reviews, and case reports are welcome for submission to this Issue. Other manuscript types accepted include methodological papers, qualitative research with victims, convicted individuals, or key stakeholders, position papers, brief reports, and commentaries.

We will accept manuscripts from different disciplines, including, but not limited to, criminology and criminal justice, public health, sociology, social work, epidemiology, and psychology. Below are some examples of topics that could be addressed in this Special Issue:

Advances in the epidemiology of sexual violence.
Intercepting the cycle of generational sexual violence.
The mental health consequences resulting from sexual violence.
A demonstration of the costs (physical, emotional, and financial) experienced by the victim, the therapeutic community, the correctional system, and society as a whole.
Promising sexual violence treatment programs.
New evidence on sexual violence prevention techniques.
Novel public health approaches to address sexual violence.
The intersection of race, power, and privilege and sexual violence.
Impacts of sexual violence work on clinicians, criminal justice professionals, and other frontline workers.

Dr. Kristen M. Zgoba
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

sexual abuse
victimization
public health epidemic
violence
treatment
advances
prevention

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 324 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Female Sexual Violence: A 12-Year Experience at a Single University Hospital in North-East Italy

by Serena Xodo, Veronica Tius, Giovanni Baccarini and Lorenza Driul

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21030301 - 5 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1261

Abstract

This retrospective study analyzed a case series of female sexual violence (SV) victims who were admitted to the emergency department of the University Hospital in Udine between January 2012 and April 2023. A total of 155 cases were divided into two groups according to their age: 115 adult victims and 40 minors. Compared with minors, adults had risk factors such as psychiatric disorders and past experience of SV, and reported bodily injuries and extragenital lesions more frequently. Moreover, a positive screening for sexually transmitted diseases and its association with genital injuries turned out to be significantly more present among adult victims than minors. In contrast, victims younger than 18 years tended to delay seeking medical help and more often did not report genital penetration. To conclude, a deeper knowledge of the different characteristics of sexual abuse among female adults and minors may help us to understand what the focus of prevention programs and public awareness campaigns should be. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sexual Violence Research)

14 pages, 579 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Advancing Research: An Examination of Differences in Characteristics of Sexual and Non-Sexual Offense Recidivism Using a 10-Year Follow-Up

by Kristen M. Zgoba, Lin Liu and Dylan T. Matthews

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(13), 6212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20136212 - 24 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1393

Abstract

In this article, we examine our current understanding of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the intersection of mental health challenges and substance use on sexual and non-sexual recidivism. This study uses administrative data and comprehensive case files of a sample of 626 individuals who were incarcerated for a sexual offense. Each case was standardized to a 10-year post-release follow-up time for criminal history review. Findings reveal that ACEs, mental health challenges, and substance use disorder, along with a variety of other factors, affect the pathway to re-offending differently. Interestingly, despite the recent legislative push to utilize one standardized predictor of risk, individuals who commit sexual offenses (ICSOs) had very different re-offending patterns based on historic life events. This research will inform the current legislative debate by providing relevant empirical data on a large sample of ICSOs followed for a substantial period of time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sexual Violence Research)

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18 pages, 1076 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role and Impact of the Use of Information Technologies by Police in Response to Violence against Women

by Kimberly Przeszlowski, Rob T. Guerette and Lori K. Sudderth

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(12), 6125; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126125 - 14 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1627

Abstract

The last decade has witnessed an increased awareness of the crucial need to enhance police response and investigation of crimes related to violence against women (VAW). Although some research has been conducted on police decision-making in response to these crimes, there remains a dearth of knowledge concerning the influence of innovative police technologies on the investigative process and resulting case outcomes. This knowledge gap is particularly concerning given (1) the intricate nature and severity of VAW crimes and (2) the substantial advancements in technology that have transformed how the criminal justice system handles violent crime cases. To address this gap, the current study adopted a multi-method, quasi-experimental design to assess the impact of the Miami Police Department’s Real-Time Crime Center (MRTCC) technologies on the case processing and case clearance of sexual assault and domestic violence incidents. The results of this study illuminate the distinctive features associated with this form of violent crime and underscore the necessity of continuously advancing the strategies employed to address these incidents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sexual Violence Research)

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16 pages, 1028 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence, Correlates, and Sequelae of Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) among Indigenous Canadians: Intersections of Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status

by L. Maaike Helmus and Ashley Kyne

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(9), 5727; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20095727 - 5 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2924

Abstract

Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a severe and concerning public-health problem globally, but some children are at higher risk of experiencing it. The harms caused by colonization and particularly the inter-generational legacy of residential schools would presumably increase the vulnerability of Indigenous children in former British colonies. Among 282 Indigenous participants in Canada recruited from Prime Panels, CSA was reported by 35% of boys, 50% of girls, and 57% of trans and gender non-conforming participants. These rates are substantially higher than global meta-analytic estimates (7.6% of boys and 18.0% of girls). There was evidence of intersectionality based on socioeconomic status. CSA was associated with a variety of other indicators of negative childhood experiences and significantly predicted numerous negative outcomes in adulthood, including mental-health issues (e.g., PTSD), unemployment, and criminal legal-system involvement. Sexual abuse of Indigenous Canadian children is a public-health crisis, and layers of marginalization (e.g., gender, social class) exacerbate this risk. Trauma-informed services to address the harms of colonization are severely needed, in line with recommendations from Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sexual Violence Research)

14 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“I Don’t Want to Be Known as a Weak Man”: Insights and Rationalizations by Male Students on Men’s Sexual Violence Perpetration against Female Students on Campus

by Yandisa Sikweyiya, Mercilene Machisa, Pinky Mahlangu, Ncediswa Nunze, Elizabeth Dartnall, Managa Pillay and Rachel Jewkes

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(5), 4550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20054550 - 3 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2142

Abstract

Understanding how men view rape is foundational for rape prevention, but it is not always possible to interview men who rape, especially in a college campus context. We explore male students’ insights into and rationalizations for why men on campus perpetrate sexual violence (SV) against female students by analysing qualitative focus group discussion data with male students. Men contended that SV is a demonstration of men’s power over women, yet they did not perceive sexual harassment of female students as serious enough to constitute SV and appeared to be tolerant of it. Men perceived “sex for grades” as exploitative and rooted in the power asymmetry between privileged male lecturers and vulnerable female students. They were disdainful of non-partner rape, describing it as acts exclusively perpetrated by men from outside campus. Most men felt entitled to have sex with their girlfriends, although an alternative discourse challenged both this entitlement and the dominant masculinity linked to it. Gender-transformative work with male students is needed to support them to think and do things differently while they are on campus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sexual Violence Research)

13 pages, 355 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Changes in IPV Risk by Age Group over Time in Conflict-Affected Northeast Nigeria

by Bolatito O. Ogunbiyi, Beth J. Maclin, Jeffrey B. Bingenheimer and Amita Vyas

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(3), 1878; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20031878 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1453

Abstract

Increased risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) has been well documented among women and girls living in conflict zones. However, how residence in a conflict area differentially impacts adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) compared to older women is less understood. This paper examines whether the levels of IPV changed more among AGYW compared to older women in six Boko Haram (BH)-affected States in Nigeria. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data was used to compare the level of the three types of IPV (emotional, physical, and sexual) among AGYW compared to older women before and during the BH conflict (2008 and 2018). We ran a multiple linear regression model with an interaction term for ever-partnered female respondents living in six Northeast States, adjusting for relevant covariates. A significantly higher proportion of both older and younger women reported experiencing emotional and sexual IPV in 2018 than in 2008, with a higher increase reported among AGYW. Sexual IPV increased by six percentage points more among AGYW compared to older women. AGYW in the BH-affected States are more vulnerable to experiencing sexual IPV relative to older women. This study highlights the need for youth-focused IPV interventions in the BH-affected States. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Sexual Violence Research)

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