Presenter: Jessica Brimhall, College of Nursing, Undergraduate Nursing
Authors: Gaye L. Ray, MS, FNP-C, PH-C; Leslie Miles, DNP, APRN, BC; Julie Valentine, PhD, RN, CNE, SANE-A; Jessica Brimhall, SN, LPN
Faculty Advisors: Gaye L. Ray, College of Nursing, Undergraduate Nursing; Leslie Miles, College of Nursing, Undergraduate Nursing
Institution: Brigham Young University
Literature shows 18.9% (Du Mont, J., Woldeyohannes, M., Macdonald, S., Kosa, D., & Tuner, L., 2017) of sexual assaults (SA) are perpetrated by current and ex-intimate partners (XIP). These assaults have higher rates of non-anogenital injuries, more physical blows, and a longer time from assault to exam than other SA. However, research addressing sexual assault perpetrated by XIP as a distinct group is limited. This presentation explores characteristics of SA perpetrated by XIP separate from current spouse/intimate partners (CIP). Following Institutional Review Board approval, an exploratory, retrospective study of SA forensic medical exam documentation forms between 2010-2018 was completed (N=5,758). This database includes characteristics of reported sexual assaults from one western state in the United States and includes over 1.6 million data points. Data includes gender, race, relationship to suspect, pre-existing medical conditions and mental illness, suspect actions (violent physical acts), number of anogenital injuries and non-anogenital injuries, and length of time from assault to exam. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, and chi-square tests of association were completed to evaluate the impact of victim-suspect relationships on characteristics of interest. The number of SAs committed by XIPs vs. CIPs is similar and show similar numbers and types of injury and pain. Differences include suspect alcohol use, use of restraints, victim disclosure of psychotropic medication or mental illness, and others. XIP SAs are also more likely to occur in younger patients than CIP SAs. Characteristics and attributes of XIP SA as separate from CIP SA will guide prevention and advocacy efforts aimed at reducing SA in this subset. More research on XIP SA is needed to elucidate this aspect of SA. SA perpetrated by XIPs and CIPs have some unique characteristics and others which are not significantly different. The impact on patients is likely similar, as both constitute intimate partner violence.