Citation

Zijlstra E, Esselink G, Moors ML, LoFoWong S, Hutschemaekers G, Lagro-Janssen A. J. Forensic Leg. Med. 2017; 52: 199-207.

Affiliation

Department of Primary and Community Care, Gender & Women's Health, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jflm.2017.08.003

PMID

28961551

Abstract

Sexual and family violence are highly prevalent problems with numerous negative health consequences. Assault centres, such as the Centre for Sexual and Family Violence (CSFV) in the Netherlands, have been set up to provide optimal care to victims. We wanted to gain insight into characteristics of the population that presented to the Centre in order to customize care to their needs. File analysis was conducted of victims who attended the CSFV between 2013 and 2016. Data were analyzed in SPSS. A total of 121 victims entered the Centre, 93% of them being female. Forty-two per cent were adult victims of sexual violence, 28% minor victims of sexual violence and 30% adult victims of family violence. One-third of sexual and two-third of family violence victims had experienced prior abuse. Current use of psychosocial services and psychiatric medication was high, and a cognitive disability was present in 18% of the sexual violence victims. Half the victims reported, but when the perpetrator was a recent contact, e.g., someone met at a party, reporting rates went down. Sexual and family violence victims share characteristics that indicate vulnerability, suggesting that care for both groups might best be combined in one single assault centre. In this way, victims can make use of the same services and knowledge of gender-based violence. One of the major aims of assault centres is to provide psychosocial follow-up care and facilities for reporting. The victims' needs in these matters deserve further research.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Assault centre; Intimate partner violence; Mental health; Multidisciplinary care; Reporting to police; Sexual violence