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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A source of healthcare disparity: Race, skin color, and injuries after rape among adolescents and young adults
Article first published online: 7 SEP 2010
DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-3938.2010.01070.x
© 2010 International Association of Forensic Nurses
Additional Information
How to Cite
Baker, R. B., Fargo, J. D., Shambley-Ebron, D. and Sommers, M. S. (2010), ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A source of healthcare disparity: Race, skin color, and injuries after rape among adolescents and young adults. Journal of Forensic Nursing, 6: 144–150. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-3938.2010.01070.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 7 SEP 2010
- Article first published online: 7 SEP 2010
- Received: November 26, 2008; accepted: March 23, 2009
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Adolescents;
- forensic nursing;
- injuries;
- race;
- rape;
- sexual assault;
- skin color
Abstract
Differences in anogenital injury resulting from rape may occur because of racial or skin color differences in adult women. It is critical to determine if these differences also are associated with differences in injury prevalence and frequency in adolescents and young adults. In a retrospective review of medical records, we examined whether Black adolescent/young adult females had different anogenital injuries as compared to White females following rape. Next, we examined whether skin color differences explained a significant amount of the racial difference in injuries. We reviewed charts of 234 female victims of rape ages 14 to 29. Overall injury prevalence was 62.8%. Race was significantly associated with frequency of injuries in several anatomical locations, with White victims having a higher frequency of injuries than Black victims. Skin color was significantly associated with injury frequency in many anatomical locations, with victims with light skin sustaining more injuries than victims with dark skin. Even when skin color was included in the relationship, race remained a statistically significant factor, suggesting that the relationship between race and injuries may be more complicated than merely a skin color difference that has been mislabeled a racial difference.