COVID-19 and sexual assault: trends in US emergency department visits-a cross-sectional analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sexual assault often increases during crises, yet trends in United States (US) emergency department (ED) visits for sexual assault during COVID-19 remain unclear.

Objective

To examine demographic, incident and injury trends in US sexual assault presentations during early and late COVID-19 compared with pre-COVID-19.

Methods

This study analysed National Electronic Injury Surveillance System All Injury Programme (2014-2021) retrospective data. ED visits for assault (n=246 499) and sexual assault (n=22 752) were compared across pre-COVID-19 (January 2014-March 2020), early COVID-19 (March 2020-January 2021) and late COVID-19 (February 2021-December 2021). Demographic and injury trends were analysed via t-tests, analysis of variance or χ² tests, with national t

SUBMITTER: Olson RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12443212 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature