The study first examined systematic reviews and meta-analyses before investigating specific studies of the associations between sexual violence and an array of health outcomes.

Estimating marginal effects of IPV associated with health outcomes required both annual incidence data for each health outcome of interest and data to estimate the proportion of cases that are related to intimate partner violence.

QRS conducted a study based on an extensive literature review of studies on the health outcomes and associated costs of sexual violence (SV) against women. QRS first prepared a report of an approach to studying SV against women by focusing on the impact of depression resulting from SV.  The earlier report presented the terms sought, the sources of information examined, the approach to documenting the findings, and the form of the results.  A fuller report expanded the earlier approach by broadening the search for relevant literature and broadening the scope to include other mental health outcomes as well as substance abuse disorders, physical health outcomes, and productivity losses.  The study first examined systematic reviews and meta-analyses before investigating specific studies of the associations between sexual violence and an array of health outcomes. The study described (1) the expanded search for applicable  literature, (2) the broader topics considered, and (3) the findings describing the current “state of knowledge” on the marginal effects and costs of sexual violence against women.

The team was lead by the study’s co-Principal Investigators, Kathryn McCollister, PhD of the Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Michelle Berlin, MD, MPH of the Oregon Health and Science University.