Rape and Sexual Coercion Related Pregnancy in the United States

Introduction: Sexual violence is a major public health problem in the U.S. that is associated with numerous health impacts, including pregnancy. U.S. population -based estimates (2010-2012) found that three million women experienced a rape -related pregnancy during their lifetimes. The current study presents more recent estimates of rape and sexual coercion -related pregnancy and examines prevalence by demographic characteristics. Methods: Data years 2016/2017 were pooled from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, a random -digit -dial telephone survey of U.S. non -institutionalized adults 18 years and older. The analysis, conducted in 2023, examined lifetime experience of rape -related pregnancy, sexual coercion -related pregnancy, or both among U.S. women. Authors calculated prevalence estimates with 95% CIs and conducted pairwise chi-square tests (p-value<0.05) to describe experiences by current age, race/ethnicity, and region of residence among U.S. women overall and among victims.
Results: One in 20 women in the U.S., or over 5.9 million women, experienced a pregnancy from either rape, sexual coercion, or both during their lifetimes. Non -Hispanic Multiracial women experienced a higher prevalence of all three outcomes compared with non -Hispanic White, nonHispanic Black, and Hispanic women. Among victims who experienced pregnancy from rape, 28% experienced a sexually transmitted disease, 66% were injured, and over 80% were fearful or concerned for their safety.
Conclusions: Pregnancy as a consequence of rape or sexual coercion is experienced by an estimated six million U.S. women. Prevention efforts may include healthcare screenings to identify violence exposure and use of evidence -based prevention approaches to reduce sexual violence.