Rape-Related HIV Risk Concerns Among Recent Rape Victims

Abstract

A sample of 62 recent rape victims who had received postrape medical care were interviewed an average of 6 weeks after being raped ( M = 37.3 days, SD = 19.3 days) to examine fear or concern about contracting HIV as a result of rape. Fifty-seven of the 62 women (91.9%) reported some degree of initial fear or postrape concern about contracting HIV as a result of the rape, and 45 of the 62 women (72.6%) reported that theywere extremely fearful or concerned about contracting HIV. Women who were extremely fearful or concerned about contracting HIV were more likely to have been raped by a stranger. Reported fear/concern was not simply a function of current intensity of intrusive or avoidance symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Fifty-one women (82.3%) wanted more information about HIV at postrape medical treatment visits