Intentions to Seek Healthcare Following Sexual Assault: Understanding Stigma as a Barrier

Abstract

How do stigma, logistical barriers, and sociodemographic factors encourage or constrain intentions to access healthcare services following sexual assault? Using original survey data from a diverse pool of almost 900 eighteen to twenty-four-year-old women, we explore potential barriers to accessing three types of medical services often sought after a sexual assault: medical treatment, evidence collection for a rape kit, and getting tested for sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. Findings suggest that both anticipated public stigma (e.g., “I would worry about health care providers judging me.”), the internalization of sexual assault stigma (e.g., “. . . people would think something negative about someone like me if they found out about the sexual assault.”), and logistical factors (e.g., access to transportation) are barriers to accessing medical services. Additionally, lesbian, gay, or bisexual respondents are less likely to access medical care or have evidence collected than their heterosexual counterparts. This study highlights the importance of reducing the stigma around sexual victimization to increase access to medical care.