The challenge of providing medical follow-up for sexual assault victims: can we predict who will attend? A retrospective cross-sectional study
L. M. Healey
A * , J. L. Hutchinson B , M. N. Pfeiffer C , L. Garton A B , B. Hatten A , M. Dobbie C , L. Simpson D and D. J. Templeton A B C E
A Department of Sexual Health Medicine, Community Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
B The Kirby Institute, University of NSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
C Sexual Assault Medical Service, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
D Sexual Assault Counselling Service, Community Health, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
E Central Clinical School, The Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
This study examined the impact of a pathway between a sexual assault service and a public sexual health service developed to improve rates of post-sexual assault medical follow-up. Follow-up attendances improved in the first 12 months of the pathway (2014) compared with attendances in 2013 (17.8% vs 9.6%, P = 0.01). Factors independently associated with attendance at follow-up were being prescribed HIV post-exposure prophylaxis and knowing the assailant. Those with physical injuries were less likely to attend. The prevalence of sexually transmissible infections in this cohort, 8% at the acute presentation and 5% at follow-up, suggests a need for alternatives to clinic-based follow-up.
Keywords: community health, gay men, HIV/AIDS, sexual violence, STIs.
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