Moving Forward by Looking Back: Reflecting on a Decade of CDC's Work in Sexual Violence Prevention, 2000–2010

Abstract

In 2011, the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) within CDC's Injury Center engaged an external panel of experts to review and evaluate its research and programmatic portfolio for sexual violence (SV) prevention from 2000 to 2010. This article summarizes findings from the review by highlighting DVP's key activities and accomplishments during this period and identifying remaining gaps in the field and future directions for SV prevention. DVP's SV prevention work in the 2000s included (1) raising the profile of SV as a public health problem, (2) shifting the field toward a focus on the primary prevention of SV perpetration, and (3) applying the public health model to SV research and programmatic activities. The panel recommended that DVP continue to draw attention to the importance of sexual violence prevention as a public health issue, build on prior investments in the Rape Prevention and Education Program, support high-quality surveillance and research activities, and enhance communication to improve the link between research and practice. Current DVP projects and priorities provide a foundation to actively address these recommendations. In addition, DVP continues to provide leadership and guidance to the research and practice fields, with the goal of achieving significant reductions in SV perpetration and allowing individuals to live to their full potential. S exual violence (SV) is a major public health problem in the United States and worldwide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines SV as including any attempted or completed sexual act, sexual contact, or noncontact sexual behavior in which the victim does not consent or is unable to consent or refuse.1 About 1 in 5 women and 1 in 71 men in the United States have experienced rape or attempted rape in their lifetimes.2 In addition, nearly half (44.6%) of women and one fifth (22.2%) of men have experienced other forms of SV, such as being made to penetrate someone else, sexual coercion, unwanted sexual touching, and noncontact unwanted sexual experiences.2 SV has serious consequences for victims' physical and mental health, including physical injury from the assault and an increased risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal behavior, substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and gynecologic or pregnancy complications.3,4 Because of the public health risk posed by SV, the Division of Violence Prevention (DVP) within CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Injury Center) is committed to advancing programmatic and research activities to prevent SV. CDC's Injury Center initiated an objective peer review process in 2011 to reflect on DVP's work in SV prevention during the last decade (2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010). The current article summarizes findings from this review by highlighting DVP's key activities and accomplishments during this period and identifying remaining gaps in the field and future directions for SV prevention.Looking Back: CDC's Work on SV Preventio...

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Girlhood and Ethics

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