HIV Post Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PEP) Study

Despite growing awareness about HIV/AIDS around the world, very little attention has been afforded to understanding and developing protocols for individuals at risk of HIBV infection following a sexual assault. HIV PEP is a combination of anti HIV medications given to a client to prevent HIV infection after exposure due to a sexual assault. The purpose of the study is to develop a program of HIV care within all the Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care Centres across Ontario.

More http://www.womensresearch.ca/programs/HIVPEP_FinalReport.php.

The Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) Study

This study proposes to validate an actuarial risk assessment tool for wife assault, exploring in particular its usefulness to centres working with victims of domestic assault. The ODARA was developed empirically and has been shown to predict with a large effect size repeated domestic assaults by men who have come into contact with the police for such assaults in the past. We expect that by participating in the ODARA-Clinic study, the treatment centre can help foster cross-communication between law enforcement and client services. For more information please contact Dr. Hilton at: zhilton@mhcp.on.ca

Study goals:

• To see how helpful a domestic assault risk assessment is for clients at the treatment centre
• To learn about injuries and related health effects of domestic violence and how they relate to risk
• To see whether information about client's partner/ex-partner, social supports and future plans, is related to client risk, injuries, and related health effects of domestic violence

Publications

Biggs, M., Stermac, L., & Divinsky, M. (1998). Genital injuries following sexual assault of women with and without prior sexual intercourse experience. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 159(1), 33-37.

Cox, J., Bota, G.W., Carter, M., Bretzlaff-Michaud, J.A., Sahai, V., & Rowe, B.H. (2004). Domestic violence: Incidence and prevalence in a northern emergency department. Canadian Family Physician 50, 90-97.

Divinsky, M. (1991). Caring for victims of sexual assault. The Canadian Journal of Diagnosis, 8, 127-140.

Du Mont, J., & Stermac, L. (1996). Research with women who have been sexually assaulted: Examining informed consent. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 5(3), 185-191.

Du Mont, J. (in press). Charging and sentencing in sexual assault cases: An exploratory examination. Canadian Journal of Women and the Law, 15(2).

Du Mont, J., Macdonald, S., & Badgley, R. (1997, May). An overview of the sexual assault care and treatment centres of Ontario. (Available from the Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Care and Treatment Centres, c/o Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Women's College Campus, 76 Grenville Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1B2).

Du Mont, J., Miller, K.L., & Myhr, T.L. (2003). The role of 'real rape' and 'real victim' stereotypes in the police reporting practices of sexually assaulted women. Violence Against Women, 9, 466-486.

Du Mont, J., & Myhr, T.L. (2000). So few convictions: The role of client-related characteristics in the legal processing of sexual assaults. Violence Against Women, 6, 1109-1136.

Du Mont, J., & Parnis, D. (2000). Sexual assault and legal resolution: Querying the medical collection of forensic evidence. Medicine and Law, 19, 779-792.

Du Mont, J., & Parnis, D. (2001). Constructing bodily evidence through Sexual Assault Evidence Kits. Griffith Law Review, 10, 63-76.

Du Mont, J., & Parnis, D. (2002, September). An overview of the sexual assault care and treatment centres of Ontario [Revised and Expanded]. (Available from the Centre for Research in Women's Health, 790 Bay Street, 7th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1N8).

Du Mont, J., & Parnis, D. (2003). Forensic nursing in the context of sexual assault: Comparing the opinions and practices of nurse examiners and nurses. Applied Nursing Research, 16,173-183.

Du Mont, J., & Stermac, L. (1996). Research with women who have been sexually assaulted: Examining informed consent. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 5, 185-191.

Dunn, S., & Gilchrist, V.J. (1993). Sexual assault. Family Violence and Abusive Relationships, 20, 359-373.

Kagan-Krieger, S., & Rehfeld, G. (2000). Forensic Nursing: The role of the sexual assault nurse examiner in Ontario. Canadian Nurse, 96:6, 21-24.

McNair, S.M., & Finigan, A.B. (1996). The role of a forensic clinical nurse specialist in a sexual assault treatment program. Journal of Clinical Forensic Medicine, 3, 29-30.

McNair, S., & Finigan, A.B. (1996). Shared roles ensure complete care for sexual assault survivors. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing, 34, 38-41.

McNair, S.M., & Finigan, A.B. (1996). The examination and assessment of female victims of acute sexual assault. Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal, 29, 239-248.

McNair, S.M., Finigan, A.B., & Fischer, L. (1994). Caring for the acutely sexually assaulted female. Canadian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, 6, 564-568.

Millar, G., Stermac, L., & Addison, M. (2002). The immediate and delayed treatment seeking among adult sexual assault victims. Women and Health, 35, 53-64.

Parnis, D., & Du Mont, J. (2002). Examining the standardized application of rape kits: An exploratory study of post sexual assault professional practices. Health Care for Women International, 23, 846-853.

Stermac, L., Del Bove, G., & Addison, M. (2001). Violence, injury and presentation patterns in spousal sexual assaults. Violence Against Women, 7, 1218-1233.

Stermac, L., Du Mont, J., & Dunn, S. (1998). Violence in known assailant sexual assaults. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 13, 398-412.

Stermac, L., Du Mont, J., & Kalemba, V. (1995). Comparison of sexual assaults by strangers and known assailants in an urban population of women. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 8, 1089-1094.

Stermac, L., & Paradis, E.K. (2001). Homeless women and victimization: Abuse and mental health history among homeless rape survivors. Resources for Feminist Research, 28, 65-80.

Stermac, L., Sheridan, P.M., Davidson, A., & Dunn, S. (1996). Sexual assault of adult males. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 11, 52-64.

Stermac, L., & Stirpe, T.S. (2002). Efficacy of a 2-year-old sexual assault nurse examiner program in a Canadian hospital. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 28, 18-23.

Stermac, L, & Stirpe, T. (2002). The sexual assault nurse examiner program in
Ontario. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 28, 18-23.

Stermac, L., Del Bove, G., & Addison M. (in press). Stranger and acquaintance sexual assault of adult males. Journal of Interpersonal Violence.

Stermac, L., Reist, D., Addison, M., & Millar, G. (2002). Childhood risk factors for adult sexual victimization. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 17,647-670.