Sexual health and sexual trauma in women with severe mental illness: An exploratory survey of Western Australian community mental health services

ABSTRACT

Australian women attending community mental health services were surveyed to determine the relationship between sexual trauma, sexual activity, and sexual health seeking behaviors. Self-reported history of “forced sex” was 58.4% (n = 122 out of 220). Latent class analysis revealed a three-class model: “sexually active and health seeking,” “low sexual activity and health seeking” and “low sexual activity and not health seeking.” An association with general practitioner engagement and sexual health seeking behaviors was found. Rates of self-reported sexual trauma reinforce the need for screening and trauma informed care. Groupings may reflect different aspects of recovery associated with sexual health behaviors.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the staff of community mental health clinics in Perth, WA, who were so supportive of this study and all the women who took part in the survey.

Funding

Funding support was received from the Department of Health, WA, and the WA Nurses Memorial Charitable Trust. The funders had no role in the study or the drafting of the article.