OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of educational institution religious affiliation with provision of sexual health services and rates of sexual violence. Participants: Analysis of 500 US college/university websites; secondary data obtained from National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
METHODS: Content analysis documented institutional religious affiliation and availability of sexual health services. Chi-square tests examined association of services with religious affiliation, while negative binomial models compared rape/fondling rates obtained from NCES between Christian/non-Christian schools.
RESULTS: Results demonstrated an overall deficit in services, with Christian campuses significantly less likely to offer 13 service. Christian schools had increased reports of rape (years 2015/2016) and fondling (year 2015).
CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight insufficiency of sexual health services and the need for future research on specific forms of services available and other factors impacting sexual violence.
FINDINGS illuminate the importance of a campus' social environment on sexual assault occurrences/reporting and structuring services to meet student needs.
Language: en
Keywords
sexual assault; rape; religion; #MeToo; Health center