Lippus Hedda, Laanpere Made, Part Kai, Ringmets Inge, Karro Helle
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu, 8 Puusepa, 51014, Tartu, Estonia.
Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
BMC Public Health. 2020 Dec 10;20(1):1897. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-09953-2.
Sexual violence against women is a major public health issue and a breach of human rights. Although various consequences of sexual violence on health have been described in a large number of scientific publications, very little is known about this topic in Estonia. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of sexual violence and associations between exposure to sexual violence and risky health and sexual behaviours among women in Estonia.
A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out in Estonia in 2014. Self-reported data regarding selected indicators of risky health and sexual behaviours were collected from 1670 women, aged 18-44 years, via a self-administered questionnaire. To measure the prevalence of sexual violence, questions from the NorVold Abuse Questionnaire were included. Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyse the data.
Of the respondents, 22.7% (n = 379) reported being exposed to sexual violence during their lifetime, and over half of these women had had these experiences before the age of 18. Statistically significant associations were found between sexual violence and smoking (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.03-1.70), alcohol consumption (AOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.18-1.95), illicit drug use (AOR 2.21, 95% CI 1.70-2.89), sexual intercourse for money or other material reward (AOR 3.51, 95% CI 1.62-7.61), concurrent sexual relationships (AOR 2.64; 95% CI 1.80-3.86), and being diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (AOR 1.48, 95% CI 1.09-2.01).
In Estonia, sexual violence against women is widespread and is associated with several risky health and sexual behaviours. Efforts should be made, both among the general public and professionals, to raise awareness regarding the prevalence and negative impact of sexual violence. Women who have been exposed to sexual violence are in need of professional medical, legal and psychological help free from prejudice to help them recover from such traumatic events.
针对妇女的性暴力是一个重大的公共卫生问题,也是对人权的侵犯。尽管大量科学出版物中描述了性暴力对健康的各种影响,但爱沙尼亚对这一主题知之甚少。本研究的目的是调查爱沙尼亚女性中性暴力的发生率,以及性暴力暴露与危险健康行为和性行为之间的关联。
2014年在爱沙尼亚开展了一项基于人群的横断面研究。通过自填问卷,从1670名年龄在18至44岁的女性中收集了有关危险健康行为和性行为选定指标的自我报告数据。为了测量性暴力的发生率,纳入了诺沃尔德虐待问卷中的问题。采用卡方检验和多因素逻辑回归分析数据。
在受访者中,22.7%(n = 379)报告在其一生中遭受过性暴力,其中一半以上的女性在18岁之前就有过这些经历。在性暴力与吸烟(调整优势比[AOR] 1.32,95%可信区间[CI] 1.03 - 1.70)、饮酒(AOR 1.52,95% CI 1.18 - 1.95)、非法药物使用(AOR 2.21,95% CI 1.70 - 2.89)、以金钱或其他物质奖励进行性交(AOR 3.51,95% CI 1.62 - 7.61)、同时存在多个性伴侣(AOR 2.64;95% CI 1.80 - 3.86)以及被诊断患有性传播感染(AOR 1.48,95% CI 1.09 - 2.01)之间发现了具有统计学意义的关联。
在爱沙尼亚,针对妇女的性暴力普遍存在,并且与多种危险健康行为和性行为相关。应在公众和专业人员中努力提高对性暴力发生率及其负面影响的认识。遭受性暴力的妇女需要专业的医疗、法律和心理帮助,且不受偏见影响,以帮助她们从这些创伤事件中恢复。