The Public Health Approach to Sexual Violence Prevention

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The Public Health Approach to Sexual Violence
Prevention

• Abby Kelly-Smith, Chair
• Sexual Violence Primary Prevention Council
• Indiana State Department of Health

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The Impact of Sexual Violence on Physical and
Mental Health

• Physical Health
• Injuries
• Disability
• Unwanted/unplanned pregnancy
• Sexually transmitted diseases
• Increased risk for onset of chronic disease and
  early death (Adverse Childhood Experiences Study)
• Mental Health
• Increased risk for substance abuse (tobacco,
  alcohol, drugs)
• Increased risk of depression, anxiety,
  post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide

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What is Public Health?
Public Health Clinical Health
Population Individual
Health Disease
Prevention Health Promotion Diagnosis Treatment
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The Public Health ApproachPrimary Prevention

• Primary Prevention Approaches or activities that
  take place before sexual violence has occurred to
  prevent initial perpetration or
  violence/victimization (universal and selected
  interventions)
• Prevention is A systematic process that promotes
  healthy environments and behaviors and reduces
  the likelihood or frequency of violence against
  women.
• Source Centers for Disease Control and
  Prevention, The Prevent Institute

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Sexual Violence is Preventable!

• Violence can be prevented and its impact
  reduced, in the same way that public health
  efforts have prevented and reduced
  pregnancy-related complications, workplace
  injuries, infectious diseases, and illnesses
  resulting from contaminated food/water in many
  parts of the world. The factors that contribute
  to sexual violencecan be changed.
• Dahlberg and Krug, 2002

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The Public Health Approach to Violence Prevention
Develop Test Prevention Strategies
Step 4
Step 3
Define the Problem
Step 2
Step 1
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A Social Ecological Approach

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Why the Social Ecology?

• It is unreasonable to expect that people will
  change their behavior easily when so many forces
  in the social, cultural, and physical environment
  conspire against such change.
• - Institute of Medicine

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Risk Factors for Perpetration
-Poverty -Lack of economic opportunities -Weak
community sanctions -General tolerance of sexual
violence in the justice system
-Alcohol Drug Use -History of physical and/or
sexual abuse -Hostility towards
women -Hyper-masculinity
-Social and cultural norms supportive of sexual
violence, such as male superiority/sexual
entitlement
-Sexually aggressive peers -Strongly patriarchal
family -Observing family violence
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Protective Factors Against Perpetration
-Social norms supporting gender equity -Strong
policies against sexual violence -Low tolerance
for violent crime
-Educational and extracurricular/social
opportunities -Collective efficacy of the
community -Low tolerance of SV in the community
justice system
-Relationships with peers who exhibit respectful
behaviors to others -Observing equality, respect,
and non-violence in the family
-Strong sense of respect for others -Connectedness
to school -No history of physical or sexual
abuse
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Potential Interventions
-Bystander intervention and healthy
relationship skill development in various
settings -Parenting classes
-Policy development implementation for no
tolerance of SV in workplaces, schools, the
justice system, etc. -Positive youth development
opportunities
-Interventions targeting social, cognitive skills
and behavior -Educational Sessions
-Engagement of multiple partners to change laws
and social norms related to violence and gender
inequity -Social marketing
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For this presentation and more resources, visit

• http//www.in.gov/isdh/23820.htm