Voices of U of U Health
Bridging Gaps in Women’s Health: Research Driving Change in Sexual Violence Prevention
By Julie Valentine, PhD, MS, BSN
In this multi-part blog series, researchers at the University of Utah College of Nursing share new insights that are expanding our understanding of women’s health. This fourth installment explores how research is driving meaningful change in the prevention of sexual violence and the care of survivors. Because its effects extend far beyond the initial trauma, sexual violence is an important—and often overlooked—women's health issue.
Sexual violence affects millions of people, yet much of its impact remains unseen. Beyond the immediate trauma, survivors often experience lasting physical, emotional, and mental health consequences that ripple through families and communities for years.
Improving outcomes for survivors begins with understanding the problem. Research plays a critical role in revealing where systems fall short, identifying opportunities for prevention, and informing policies that better protect and support victims.
Although sexual violence is both a national and statewide concern, it is often underrecognized as a women's health issue. Statistics show 1 in 6 women have been raped, and twice that number experience other forms of sexual violence during their lifetime. Survivors also face increased risks of chronic physical and mental health conditions, from PTSD and depression to chronic pain, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections.
Early in my nursing career, I was a pediatric ICU nurse at Primary Children’s Hospital and later worked with children in the Safe and Healthy Families program. I quickly realized that an alarming number of the children we treated had experienced sexual abuse. I found myself asking a simple question: Why wasn't this crisis receiving greater attention?
That question shaped the next two decades of my career. I became committed to generating the evidence needed to improve survivor care, strengthen prevention efforts, and help policymakers enact meaningful change.
Research Drives Results
When we talk about sexual assault, abuse, and intimate partner violence, the research indications are broad. Because sexual violence can occur within any age group and a range of relationships, my work has delved into everything from childhood abuse to geriatric assault, male victims, vulnerabilities for assault, and a rise in sexual assault among dating app users.
One of my first large-scale research projects examined what happens to the thousands of rape kits collected after an assault. We discovered only 36% of collected kits were turned into crime labs, even for cases in which victims chose to prosecute. That meant the majority of kits (64%) were languishing in storage or destroyed. The data and statistics we gathered from this study allowed us to present a compelling case for requiring forensic testing on all rape kits.
In 2017, we successfully partnered with Utah Rep. Angela Romero to pass House Bill 200, which mandated submission and testing of all rape kits. With this legislation, submission and testing rates have increased to nearly 100%. The continuous data collection mandated by this law gives assault victims greater hope for justice by supplying law enforcement with the information they need to effectively pursue their cases.
A more recent study in collaboration with our long-term research partner, Leslie Miles, DNP, APRN, BC, from Brigham Young University, investigates the rising problem of dating app assault. Our research uncovered an increased degree of violence, physical as well as sexual attacks, and greater premeditation. This supported our theory that predators used dating apps to hunt for victims. Again, with Romero’s support, this data was used to pass House Bill 18 in 2023. This bill authorized new regulations ensuring clear reporting and liability practices within dating apps, plus readily available in-app resources for victims of assault.
These examples illustrate the importance of evidence-based policy. To achieve our goal of making Utah safer and healthier, we need data that drives legislative change. This determination has led me to advocacy work with several organizations that are committed to ending sexual violence.
A New Community of Support
The Start by Believing campaign launched by End Violence Against Women International is an impactful program that teaches individuals how to respond when someone they know discloses sexual abuse, assault, or other forms of gender-based violence. Studies have shown that victims who receive a positive response when informally disclosing an assault are more likely to make a formal report to authorities.
In 2015, research-backed legislation led Utah to become a Start by Believing State. By creating a culture of support instead of shame or blame, more sexually violent crimes may be reported, prosecuted, or otherwise addressed.
We partnered with Susan Madsen, EdD, and Utah State University’s A Bolder Way Forward program and Utah Women in Leadership Project (UWLP) to launch a state-wide, three-year Start by Believing campaign to educate Utahns on how to respond to disclosure across the state. In addition, we are tracking the impact of the Start by Believing program through a statewide UWLP survey and metrics with End Violence Against Women International. As we regularly analyze the data, we can better interpret and apply the findings that advance our work to end sexual violence.
The Work Ahead to End Sexual Violence
This work is critical to helping us educate, track, and help victims of sexual assault. It takes a village, or in this case, working together, mining the data, and using our findings to enact powerful, meaningful legislation. Together, we believe we can improve health care, quality of life, and resources for victims.
We have already seen what is possible when data combines with activism. Rape kit testing rates near 100%, stronger dating app protections, and a growing statewide culture of believing survivors. But there is still more work to do. Sexual violence will not end on its own. Our data and research represent real people whose lives have been forever changed. By continuing to fund research, support survivors, and demand evidence-based legislation, we can transform these statistics into a safer Utah for everyone.
