Sexual violence associated with poor mental health in women attending Australian general practices

The knowledge of and educational interest in sexual medicine among Finnish medical and midwifery students: A web-based study

INTRODUCTION

Many elements of life can affect sexual health; thus, healthcare professionals require good knowledge of sexual medicine to encounter patients with these issues. We aimed to study final-year medical and midwifery students' self-reported knowledge of factors associated with sexuality and their knowledge of how to evaluate and treat/counsel patients with sexual problems. In addition, educational interests regarding sexual medicine were assessed.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, a web-based questionnaire was distributed to final-year medical (n=233) and midwifery (n=131) students graduating between December 2018 and May 2019 in Finland.

RESULTS

Both student groups self-reported insufficient knowledge of how to consider sexuality in mentally ill patients, how to encounter victims of domestic violence/sexual abuse, and how multiculturalism affects sexuality. In addition, compared to the midwifery students, the medical students were more likely to self-report insufficient knowledge of the basics of sexual pleasure and treating the lack of it (p<0.001), including how to treat sexual problems due to relationship problems (p<0.001) or chronic diseases (p=0.015). Although several educational areas of interest arose, both student groups had two mutual most desirable educational interests: 1) reasons for dyspareunia and its treatment, n=117/233 (50.2%) for medical students, and n=60/131 (45.8%) for midwifery students; and 2) lack of sexual desire and its treatment, n=100/233 (42.9%) for medical students, and n=55/131 (42.0%) for midwifery students.

CONCLUSIONS

In both student groups, the self-reported knowledge of sexual medicine was insufficient. Thus, more education on sexual medicine should be included in the curricula of medical and midwifery education.

Rethinking sexual violence labels: exploring the impact of 'victim' and 'survivor' discourse

Background: Universities' responses to sexual violence have faced scrutiny for their lack of proactiveness and their failure to address campus socio-cultural norms that contribute to rape myth acceptance. The labels victim and survivor play a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward sexual violence, but there is limited research on how university students perceive these labels.Objective: This paper explores sexual violence labels and their role in perpetuating rape culture. Undergraduate university students' beliefs on using the label survivor instead of victim to describe someone who has experienced sexual violence were examined to consider how these labels create societal discourse on sexual violence.Method: The study draws on qualitative data collected from undergraduate students in Canada and the United States through open-response questions in an interactive textbook. Data were analysed and interpreted using a multi-method approach that combined principles of Critical Discourse Analysis and Feminist Poststructuralism. Direct quotes and word clouds from participants' responses are used as evidence and to visually display discourse.Results: Findings revealed that participants recognised the negative societal discourses associated with the label victim and supported using survivor to challenge perceptions of sexual violence. Despite this, participants expressed hesitancy to adopt the label survivor because of the potential negative implications, such as the label promoting the allocation of individual blame, increasing barriers to justice, and reducing the perceived severity of sexual violence.Conclusions: This study underscores the complexities of sexual violence labels, the influence of language in shaping societal perceptions, and the need for a more comprehensive and equitable approach to responding to sexual violence.

Experiences of healthcare staff in forensic care facilities supporting sexual violence survivors, in Tshwane, South Africa

BACKGROUND

 Sexual violence is a persisting global epidemic that is constantly increasing on a large scale. The rate of sexual violence in South Africa is one of the highest in the world; and it has been reported to appear socially normalised and acceptable.

OBJECTIVES

 The study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of healthcare staff working in forensic care centres (FCCs) in Tshwane, South Africa.

METHOD

 A qualitative approach was followed incorporating focus group interviews with a range of healthcare staff based in the two FCCs. Non-probability purposive sampling was done. Data analysis was informed by the Analytic Hierarchy Model which comprised of three steps: data management, descriptive accounts and developing explanatory accounts.

RESULTS

 Three main themes emerged as, (1) help them to do away with the idea of self-blame: everyday work; (2) barriers to the accessibility of care: seeking alternative traditional remedies (muti) from traditional healers and working in an unconducive environment and (3) compassionately sick at times: Emotional impact of forensic care work.

CONCLUSION

 The findings revealed that the healthcare staff are often working in difficult circumstances and that both professional and societal factors mediate against the provision of care and support for survivors. Greater attention is needed both in terms of service development and wider challenges to pervading societal norms surrounding violence against women.Contribution: The study highlighted the need for training, improved management support and debriefing sessions.

Women's Experiences Accessing Mental Health Care in Australia After Sexual Violence in Adulthood

In Australia, at least one in every five women has experienced sexual violence since age 15. Research consistently links sexual violence with poor mental health, persisting long after the crisis period. Trauma-informed mental health support is therefore critical. This article draws on interviews with 29 women who had experienced sexual violence to understand their experiences accessing mental health services in Australia. Our findings suggest that, constrained by a biomedical model of care, mental health practitioners' understanding of trauma generally, and sexual violence particularly, may be lacking. Further, women struggle to navigate a "maze" of services.

Experiences of Sexual Harassment by Patients among Nurses at the Mental Hospital of West Java Province: A Qualitative Study

Sexual harassment is behavior related to forced sex without the consent of the victim. Incidents of sexual harassment on nurses can be in the form of physical behavior and verbal behavior. The factor of power relations between men and women and the patriarchal culture in Indonesia are the causes of the sexual harassment of mental health nurses, so many incidents of the sexual harassment of women occur. The forms of sexual harassment that occur include kissing, hugging from behind, and verbal abuse related to sex. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of sexual harassment of psychiatric nurses at the Mental Hospital of West Java Province. This study implemented a qualitative descriptive approach using the NVIVO 12 software application. The sample in this study was 40 psychiatric nurses at the Mental Hospital of West Java Province. The sampling technique in this study was focus group discussions with semi-structured and in-depth interviews. The data analysis in this study used a thematic analysis. This study shows that sexual harassment behavior is carried out by patients in physical and verbal forms. Sexual harassment is mostly carried out by male patients towards female nurses. Meanwhile, sexual harassment took the form of hugging from behind, kissing, naked patients in front of nurses, and disturbing nurses with verbal abuse related to sex. Nurses feel disturbed, afraid, anxious, and shocked by the incidents of sexual harassment committed by patients. Sexual harassment by patients towards nurses causes psychological problems for nurses and causes nurses to want to leave their jobs. Gender adjustment between nurses and patients is a preventive effort to prevent the sexual harassment of nurses. Sexual harassment by patients causes a decrease in the quality of work of nurses in providing nursing care, creating a work environment that is less safe and comfortable.

Towards a health promoting university: descriptive findings on health, wellbeing and academic performance amongst university students in Australia

BACKGROUND

Universities are increasingly recognised as institutions where health and wellbeing can be promoted to maximise academic outcomes, career transitions, and lifelong positive health behaviours. There is concern about the mental health of university students and other factors which affect academic outcomes particularly for subgroups such as international students. There are few cohort studies of the breadth of issues that can impact on mental health and academic outcomes for both local and international students. We conducted a baseline prevalence survey of students at a large Australian university covering health, academic, and social determinants of wellbeing. The purpose was to inform the university's new student health and wellbeing framework with a view to follow-up to determine predictors of mental ill-health and academic outcomes in the subsequent year. In this paper we present the baseline prevalence data and report on selected mental health and health care access issues for local and international students.

METHODS

The entire university population as of April 2019 of over 56,375 students aged 18 or above were invited to complete the online survey. Questions explored eight domains: demographic characteristics, general health and wellbeing, mental health, risk taking behaviours, psychosocial stressors, learning and academic factors, social and cultural environment, and awareness of and access to health and wellbeing services. Records of academic results were also accessed and matched with survey data for a large subset of students providing consent.

RESULTS

Fourteen thousand eight hundred eighty (26.4%) students commenced our survey and were representative of the entire student population on demographic characteristics. Three quarters were aged between 18 to 25 years and one third were international students. Eighty-five percent consented to access of their academic records. Similar proportions of local and international students experienced symptoms of a depression or anxiety disorder, however international students were less aware of and less likely to access available health services both inside and external to the university. We also reported on the prevalence of: general lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, amount of daily sleep); risk-taking behaviours (including alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; unprotected sexual activity); psychosocial stressors (financial, intimate partner violence, discrimination, academic stressors, acculturative stress); subjects failed; resilience; social supports; social media use; and health services accessed online.

CONCLUSIONS

This rigorous and comprehensive examination of the health status of local and international students in an Australian university student population establishes the prevalence of mental health issues and other psychosocial determinants of health and wellbeing, along with academic performance. This study will inform a university-wide student wellbeing framework to guide health and wellbeing promotion and is a baseline for a 12-month follow-up of the cohort in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reproductive coercion as a form of family violence against immigrant and refugee women in Australia

Reproductive coercion (RC), generally considered a form of intimate partner violence (IPV), refers to perpetrator behaviours and actions that are intended to interfere with and control the autonomous decision-making of a person regarding their reproductive health. To date there are few studies that document RC as experienced by immigrant and refugee women. In this article, we explore cases of RC as described by women who were part of a larger qualitative study investigating violence against immigrant and refugee women in southern Australia. The study aimed to identify the types of RC detailed in immigrant and refugee women’s narratives, and to illustrate the contexts in which these experiences occurred. Analysis followed Baxter and Jack’s (2008) case study methodology; whereby particular “cases” are used to describe a phenomenon in context. Thirteen women from seven countries described experiences that fit definitions of RC. The cases describe various types of RC including violence during pregnancy with the intent of causing miscarriage, forced abortion, contraception sabotage and forced pregnancy. As well as intimate partners, some women described multiple perpetrators being complicit in their experience of RC, especially in regard to controlling women’s access to, and interactions with health services. More information is needed about immigrant and refugee women’s experiences of RC, and how vulnerability to multi-perpetrator violence affects health service access. In particular knowledge about how multi-perpetrator RC can affect consent processes for women who already face barriers to health care requires attention. Further research is required to address knowledge gaps about appropriate prevention and advocacy work about RC in refugee and migrant communities, and what training is needed for professionals in the family violence sector, women’s health services, women’s organisations, multicultural and ethno-specific services.

Reproductive coercion and abuse among pregnancy counselling clients in Australia: trends and directions

BACKGROUND

Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) interferes with a person's reproductive autonomy and can be classified into behaviours that are pregnancy promoting or pregnancy preventing (including coerced abortion). However, prevalence data are lacking, and little is known about whether particular forms of RCA are more or less common. The aims of our study were to explore how frequently people seeking pregnancy counselling reported RCA, the proportions reporting the different forms of RCA, and whether there were different trends based on a range of demographic factors.

METHODS

Data were collected from 5107 clients seeking counselling support for their pregnancy between January 2018 and December 2020 from two leading providers of pregnancy counselling and sexual and reproductive health services in Australia, Marie Stopes Australia and Children by Choice. Counsellors identified and recorded the presence of RCA and whether the behaviour was pregnancy promoting and/or pregnancy preventing. Demographic factors included age, and whether the person identified as being from a migrant or refugee community or as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

RESULTS

RCA was identified in 15.4% of clients, with similar proportions disclosing RCA towards pregnancy (6%) and towards pregnancy prevention or abortion (7.5%), and 1.9% experiencing RCA towards pregnancy and abortion concurrently. There were no differences based on age or whether the person identified as being from a migrant or refugee background, though people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander experienced RCA that was significantly more likely to be pregnancy promoting.

CONCLUSIONS

RCA is commonly disclosed by people seeking support in a pregnancy counselling context, and coercion and abuse is equally likely to be towards pregnancy promotion or pregnancy prevention/abortion. Given the prevalence and negative impacts of RCA, regardless of age and background, we recommend sensitive and culturally respectful enquiry around experiences of RCA be embedded in healthcare, health education, and health research.

Sexual violence in adult women and adolescents: a narrative review

Sexual violence is a widespread phenomenon, as it has been estimated that about 35.6% of women have experienced some forms of sexual abuse, with variable prevalence estimates worldwide. Sexual violence has remarkable negative consequences on women's health and quality of life, with a specific harmful impact on women's psychological well-being and sexuality. In this narrative review, we provide an overview on the phenomenon of sexual violence against adult women and adolescents, discussing its associated multiple negative consequences with a specific focus on clinical and sexological aspects. ''Women centered care'' and a multidisciplinary approach appear of pivotal importance when working with sexual violence survivors. Woman should be engaged in all the clinical activities as equal partners in the decision-making process, and should be supported by multiple and different professional figures (i.e. gynecologists, psychologists, sexologists, forensic medical doctors, lawyers) working within the framework of a cooperative integrated model.

Women's experiences of safety apps for sexualized violence: a narrative scoping review

Background

Sexualized violence against women is a significant human rights problem worldwide. Safety apps have the capacity to provide women with resources to prevent or respond to experiences of sexualized violence.

Methods

The aim of the following study was to review the scope of the literature on women’s experiences of safety apps related to sexualized violence. The databases Embase, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Scopus were systematically searched, and seven studies were included in this review.

Results

Thematic analysis identified the following themes in the literature: (1) security; (2) accessibility; and (3) knowledge.

Conclusion

The gaps in the literature are identified and implications and recommendations for future research is discussed.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12292-5.

Reproductive coercion and abuse in Australia: what do we need to know?

Reproductive coercion and abuse refers to patterns of controlling and manipulative behaviours used to interfere with a person's reproductive health and decision-making. Unintended pregnancy, forced abortion or continuation of a pregnancy, and sexually transmissible infections all may result from reproductive coercion, which is closely associated with intimate partner and sexual violence. Clinicians providing sexual and reproductive healthcare are in a key position to identify and support those affected. Yet, reproductive coercion and abuse is not currently screened for in most settings and addressing disclosures poses many challenges. This article discusses what reproductive coercion and abuse is, who it affects, how it impacts, and potential strategies to improve identification and response.

Outcomes of routine screening for reproductive coercion in a family planning service

Background Reproductive coercion (RC) occurs when a person's autonomous decision-making regarding reproductive health is compromised by another. RC screening, that is, the use of routine, non-invasive screening questions asked of service users/clients, is one strategy that can be used to assess for RC. Routine screening for RC was implemented within Family Planning NSW clinical consultations in December 2018. A cross-sectional study was undertaken to review the outcomes of screening to better understand the situation of RC among women accessing family planning services. Methods A retrospective review of clinical consultation data of eligible women attending Family Planning NSW clinics in 2019 was undertaken. Descriptive analysis was conducted and modified Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios and assess associations between binary outcomes and client characteristics. Results Of 7943 women eligible for RC screening, 5497 were screened (69%) and 127 women (2.3%) disclosed RC. RC was more likely to be disclosed among clients who were unemployed, had a disability or had more than one visit within 1 year. Conclusions Sexual and reproductive health clinicians, in particular, are well placed to conduct RC screening. However, they must have adequate training and access to resources to implement screening and respond to women who disclose RC.

Sexual violence and Australian women: A longitudinal analysis of psychosocial and behavioral outcomes

RATIONALE

Sexual violence (SV) is associated with adverse psychosocial and behavioural outcomes with revictimization likely. However, there are significant gaps in the current literature in regard to (a) whether over time women's levels of distress/behaviour change, and (b) whether social support mediates the relationship between SV and adverse outcomes.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study aimed to address these two issues by analysing data from the Australian Longitudinal Women's Health Survey, surveys 4 (2006) to 8 (2018). Using repeated-measures data analytic procedures we found that women who had suffered SV, in comparison to women with no SV history, had greater anxiety, depression, stress, a lower mental health-related quality of life and less life satisfaction. Moreover, their level of distress remained higher at all time points, in comparison to the other group. Women with a SV history were also more likely to suffer re-victimization, consume more cigarettes and illicit drugs than other women. Moreover, SV predicted all psychosocial outcomes (except life satisfaction) 12 years later, with social support mediating these relationships. SV predicted drug status; however social support did not mediate this relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that for women who have experienced SV their distress levels remain elevated. The findings also provide additional insights into the long-term impact of SV in Australian women with social support being identified as a resource that may assist in reducing some of the negative psychological outcomes associated with SV.

Severity of violence and quality of life of women with psychiatric disorders as compared to normal controls

BACKGROUND

Despite the fact that violence against women is a significant public health problem, there is a paucity of research into this area, and little is known about the extent to which women with psychiatric disorders are affected.

AIM

The aim of the study was to assess and compare the severity of violence and quality of life of women with psychiatric disorders and normal controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on purposive sampling technique, a sample consisting of 120 participants was selected from in-patient (female section) and outpatient services of the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences and Kanke Area. Both groups were matched on sociodemographic details. Normal controls were screened using General Health Questionnaire-12. The severity of violence against women scale and the revised Conflict Tactics Scale were used to assess the severity of violence, and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF scale was used for the assessment of the quality of life. Scales were scored as per their test manuals. Results were tabulated and compared using appropriate statistical tests.

RESULTS

Women with psychiatric illness as well as normal controls faced various forms of symbolic violence equally. Women with psychiatric disorders faced significantly higher severity of physical assault, sexual coercion, and injury as compared to normal controls. Women with psychiatric disorders had significantly lower scores on WHOQOL BREF compared to normal participants.

CONCLUSION

Women with psychiatric disorders suffered significantly higher severity of both physical and sexual violence and had significantly worse quality of life compared to normal controls.

Women's expectations of healthcare providers in the context of reproductive abuse in Australia

Reproductive abuse is a poorly understood form of violence against women. It is defined as a deliberate attempt to interfere with or control a women's reproductive choices and is usually perpetrated by a male intimate partner. Reproductive abuse is associated with a range of poor health outcomes for women, increasing the likelihood that they will visit a healthcare provider. Despite this, there is a dearth of evidence to inform best practice in health settings, particularly research that highlights the voices of survivors. Qualitative studies to date have focused on intimate partner or sexual violence more broadly, yet it is likely that reproductive abuse presents its own nuance in terms of a supportive response. In this paper, we address this gap by reporting qualitative data from 14 women who self-identified as survivors of reproductive abuse. Findings suggest that healthcare providers have an important role to play in responding to reproductive abuse, focusing on taking the problem seriously, reinforcing that the behaviour is wrong, asking about other forms of violence and addressing women's needs and priorities for contraception and reproductive autonomy. This study has important implications for the development of best practice guidelines for healthcare providers responding to reproductive abuse in female patients.

"A Huge, Hidden Problem": Australian Health Practitioners' Views and Understandings of Reproductive Coercion

Reproductive coercion is understood as behavior interfering with a woman's reproductive autonomy. It is usually perpetrated by a male partner, and sometimes by other family members. Reproductive coercion encompasses violence, threats, or coercion to force a woman to become or remain pregnant, or to terminate a pregnancy. To date, few studies have focused on this topic, particularly using qualitative methods. In this article, we aim to explore how Australian health practitioners understand and perceive reproductive coercion. We conducted semistructured interviews with health practitioners from an Australian public hospital, and the resulting data were analyzed thematically. Overall, reproductive coercion was described as complex and hidden. There were diverse understandings around its parameters and scope, which were shaped by the participants' disciplines and paradigms. Our findings point toward a need for greater clarity around reproductive coercion and how it sits within a broader framework of violence against women, to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaborative responses.

How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

Reproductive abuse is defined as a deliberate attempt to control or interfere with a woman's reproductive choices. It is associated with a range of negative health outcomes and presents a hidden challenge for health practitioners. There is a dearth of research on reproductive abuse, particularly qualitative research. This study aims to address this gap by exploring how health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with n=17 health practitioners working across multiple disciplines within a large metropolitan public hospital in Victoria. Data were analysed thematically.

RESULTS

Three themes were developed: Figuring out that something is wrong; Creating a safe space to work out what she wants; and Everyone needs to do their part.

CONCLUSIONS

Practitioners relied on intuition developed through experience to identify reproductive abuse. Once identified, most practitioners described a woman-led response promoting safety; however, there were inconsistencies in how this was enacted across different professions. Lack of clarity around the level of response required was also a barrier. Implications for public health: Our findings highlight the pressing need for evidence-based guidelines for health practitioners and a 'best practice' model specific to reproductive abuse.

Anxiety and depression in women with and without chronic pelvic pain: prevalence and associated factors

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of anxiety, depression and mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (MADD) and factors associated with these conditions in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) compared to a pain-free control group.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 100 women with CPP and 100 without CPP. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to evaluate the presence of anxiety and depression. Sociodemographic, behavioral and clinical characteristics were investigated. Fisher’s exact test was used to compare characteristics between groups. A log-binomial regression model was used, with adjustment for age, skin color, schooling, body mass index and pain. Prevalence ratios (PR), together with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), were calculated to investigate factors associated with anxiety, depression and MADD.

Results: The prevalence of anxiety was 66% in the CPP group and 49% in the controls (p=0.02). Depression was identified in 63% of the women with CPP and in 38% of the controls (p<0.01). MADD was present in 54% of the CPP group and in 28% of the controls (p<0.01). In the adjusted analysis, CPP (PR=1.3; 95%CI: 1.1–1.6), physical abuse (PR=1.5; 95%CI: 1.2–1.8) and sexual abuse (PR=1.5; 95%CI: 1.1–1.8) were independently associated with anxiety. Women of 25 to 34 years of age were less likely to have anxiety (PR=0.6; 95%CI: 0.4–0.8). CPP (PR=1.6; 95%CI: 1.2–2.2), physical abuse (PR=1.3; 95%CI: 1.1–1.7) and sexual abuse (PR=1.7; 95%CI: 1.3–2.2) were independently associated with depression. CPP (PR=1.9; 95%CI: 1.3–2.7), smoking (PR=1.5; 95%CI: 1.1–2.1), physical abuse (PR=1.4; 95%CI: 1.1–1.9) and sexual abuse (PR=1.4; 95%CI: 1.1–1.8) were independently associated with MADD.

Conclusions: The prevalence of anxiety, depression and MADD was higher in women with CPP compared to the pain-free controls. Factors associated with mental disorders were identified. The independent association between CPP and anxiety, depression and MADD was noteworthy. These findings suggest that systematic management of psychological factors could contribute towards improving the mental health of these women.

Identification and Management of Domestic and Sexual Violence in Primary Care in the #MeToo Era: an Update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We discuss recent evidence around the identification and response to domestic and sexual violence in primary care for perpetrators and victims, in the context of feminist social media movements such as #MeToo.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is no recent research on identification and response to perpetrators in health settings. There is some limited recent evidence for how health settings can address domestic and sexual violence for female victims and their children. Recent studies of mixed quality focus on advocacy and empowerment, integrated interventions (with alcohol and drug misuse) and couples counselling for domestic violence and cognitive behavioural or processing therapy for sexual violence. Further research on perpetrator interventions in primary care is urgent. Larger sample sizes and a focus on sexual violence are needed to develop the evidence base for female survivors. Clinicians need to ask about violence and provide a first-line response depending on the patient's needs.

Exploring the relationships between sexual violence, mental health and perpetrator identity: a cross-sectional Australian primary care study

Background

Research supports the association between adult sexual violence (SV) and poor mental health. However, most studies focus on rape and physical sexual assault. Little is known about how more subtle forms of SV affect women’s well-being. Furthermore, evidence for the impact of the perpetrator’s identity is mixed. There is also little data from clinical populations to help health practitioners identify SV. This paper addresses these gaps by exploring the associations between different types of adult SV, perpetrator identity, and women’s mental health in the Australian primary care setting.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive, cross-sectional study in general practice clinics. Adult women completed an anonymous survey while waiting for the doctor. Measures included PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety) and PCL-C (post-traumatic stress disorder). SV was measured using items from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey and categorised into three groups (rape/sexual assault; coercive behaviours and/or reproductive control; and unwanted sexual contact).

Results

We found significant associations between rape/sexual assault and poor mental health, and between coercion and/or reproductive control and higher PTSD and anxiety scores, compared to women with no SV experiences. SV perpetrated by an intimate partner was associated with significantly higher mean PTSD scores than SV perpetrated by a stranger, and significantly higher depression scores than SV perpetrated by another known person.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that associations between SV and mental health are mediated by type of SV and perpetrator identity. Health practitioners should enquire about different types of SV beyond stranger rape as a cause of poor mental health, and about perpetrator identity to inform them about the likelihood of ongoing symptoms.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-6303-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Domains of common mental disorders in women reporting intimate partner violence

Objective

to verify associations between the types of intimate partner violence and the domains of common mental disorders in women.

Method

cross-sectional study with 369 women. The information was obtained through the instruments Self-Reporting Questionnaire and Conflict Tactic Scales. To analyze the data, Pearson’s Chi-Square test, Fisher’s exact test and Odds Ratio were used.

Results

women who reported physical abuse with and without sequela were respectively 2.58 and 3.7 times more likely to have symptoms of anxious depressed mood. The chances of experiencing symptoms of decreased vital energy increased by 2.27 times with psychological aggression, 3.06 times with physical abuse without sequelae and 3.13 times with physical abuse with sequelae. Somatic symptoms did not show statistical association with the types of violence. The propensity to develop symptoms of depressive thoughts increased 3.11 times with psychological aggression, 6.13 times with physical aggression without sequelae, 2.47 times with sexual coercion and 7.3 times with physical aggression with sequelae.

Conclusion

the types of intimate partner violence are strongly associated with the domains of common mental disorders in women. This finding may contribute to more accurate interventions by health professionals to women victims of violence.