Teens' experiences with sexual assault support services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Teens' experiences with sexual assault support services
IRAS ID
261467
Contact name
Tamara Shiboleth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham City University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Data shows teens and young adults experience the highest rate of sexual assault. Teenagers who were raped during childhood show a relation with risky behaviours such as being sexually active at a younger age and poor use of contraception. Furthermore, they have a greater number of pregnancies and abortions, are at higher risk for HIV and STI's, higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts and attempts, self-mutilation, eating disorders and obesity. Unfortunately, teens have proved hard to reach by health and support services. The current study is designed in co-operation with Umbrella Clinic, an Abuse Survivors Clinic, and part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. Offering free and confidential sexual health services in the Birmingham and Solihull area, for people of all ages, gender and orientations. A review of the literature shows few studies actually focus on teens’ experiences and needs after sexual assault. This study’s objective is to explore teens’ experiences following sexual assault to find out how sexual assault support services can be improved. Interviews with teens who’ve experienced sexual assault, focus groups with professionals working with these teens, observations at sexual health clinics offering services to teens will be combined with a literature review. Furthermore, a grounded theory approach is taken because it suits the aim of study honoring both theory and practice, individual agency and social structure.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0096
Date of REC Opinion
24 Apr 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion