Sexual abuse in people with spinal cord damage

Abstract

Objectives: There are few studies of sexual abuse in people with spinal cord damage (SCD). Objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and impact of sexual abuse in SCD.

Design: Survey (web and paper-based).

Setting: Australia (August 2013–June 2014).

Participants: People with SCD (n = 136); able-bodied controls (n = 220).

Interventions: None.

Outcome measures: Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Conditions Scale, International SCI Quality of Life Basic Dataset, and the Physical Disability Sexual and Body Esteem scale. Questions regarding demographic and clinical characteristics, sex, sexual orientation, relationship status, disability, sexual interest and satisfaction, and sexual abuse.

Results: Most SCD participants were male (n = 92, 67%), the average age was 46 years (SD = 14) and they were median of 11 years (IQR 4–21) after SCD. Of these, 19% (n = 26) reported sexual abuse. Females were much more likely to report being abused (odds ratio 3.3, 95%CI 1.5–7.4; χ²=10.9, P = 0.001). Participants reporting sexual abuse were younger (P = 0.01) and more likely to have been abused before their SCD (69%). There was no significant difference between those with SCD who reported sexual abuse and those who did not regarding their quality of life as a whole (P > 0.1). There was no difference regarding the reporting of sexual abuse between able-bodied and those with SCD (P = 0.1).

Conclusion: Sexual abuse was relatively common and was not associated with an adverse relationship with the covariates assessed. Further research is needed to better determine the prevalence of sexual abuse in people with SCD and its impact.

Keywords:

• Questionnaires
• Spinal cord diseases
• Spinal cord injury
• Self-report
• Sexuality
• Sex offences

Acknowledgements

Vanessa Hamilton (previously Sexual Health Nurse Consultant, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia) is thanked for her assistance with developing the questions regarding sexual abuse. The following people with SCD provided comments and suggestions regarding these questions: Lynne Panayiotis, Georgina Fiorentino, Mark Hanson, Mike Short, and two others who wished to remain anonymous. Merilyn Seddon (Monash University) and the following organizations are thanked for their assistance with distribution of the survey to potential participants: AQA (Victoria), Spinal Injuries Association (Queensland), Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (New South Wales), Paraplegic-Quadriplegic Association of WA, ParaQuad NSW, Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of South Australia, Spinal Cord Injury Network (Australia). Ms Michelle Serafin and Ms Jane Clarkson provided helpful suggestions regarding the impact of sexual abuse on the provision of care for people with SCD. The author would especially like to thank all the participants who completed the survey.

Disclaimer statement

Contributors None.

Funding No funding was provided for this research.

Declaration of interest None.

Conflicts of interest There are no relevant conflicts of interest to declare.