Integrated Sexual Violence Victim Support Services: A Systematic Review and Comparison with South Korea’s Sunflower Center System

Abstract

Background:

Victims of sexual violence have better physical and mental health outcomes when appropriate support services are provided; in particular, multidisciplinary support services have been reported to be effective.

Aims:

This review examined international models of sexual violence victim support services across medical, forensic, mental health, legal or investigative, and case management domains and compared them with South Korea’s Sunflower Center System.

Methods:

A systematic literature search was conducted across five databases (Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, Ovid-MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE) with no publication start date limit, through August 25, 2022. Eligible studies included empirical reports on support services provided to victims of sexual violence, regardless of age or gender, and involving at least one type of service among medical, psychological, legal and investigative support. Studies were excluded if they focused solely on other forms of violence, evaluated treatment effectiveness, or described services without presenting original data. Three reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, resolving discrepancies through discussion.

Results:

Of 12,192 records identified, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of service models were hospital-based (93.1%) and provided medical (96.6%) and forensic services (93.1%). Crisis mental health support was commonly available on site, whereas long-term care was provided on site or via referral pathways, with substantial variability across models. Legal and investigative support was less consistently embedded and was frequently delivered through coordination with external agencies. The Sunflower Center System provided all five core services onsite, reflecting a highly integrated service structure.

Conclusion:

Our findings highlight the global trend toward integrated service models and support the importance of core services, particularly medical, forensic, and mental health support, as essential components of effective victim care. Expanding access to integrated models, such as the Sunflower Center System, may help improve care for victims of sexual violence across diverse settings.