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; J. L. Hutchinson; M. N. Pfeiffer; L. Garton; B. Hatten; M. Dobbie; L. Simpson; D. J. Templeton

doi:10.1071/SH22180

EDITORIAL

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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

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^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.

^* Correspondence to: Loretta.Healey@health.nsw.gov.au

Handling Editor: Christopher Fairley

Sexual Health 20(5) 475-477 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH22180

Submitted: 17 November 2022 Accepted: 21 July 2023 Published: 21 August 2023

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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