Reposted from U of U Health’s Good Notes blog
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 statewide, 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 re
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.
Other blog posts in this series:
Bridging Gaps in Women’s Health: From Pregnancy to Long-Term Prevention
Bridging the Gaps in Women’s Health: Navigating the “Bermuda Triangle” of Menopause
Bridging Gaps in Women’s Health: Preventing Perinatal Depression
About the author
Julie Valentine, Ph.D., M.S., BSN, is a professor and Ida May “Dotty” Barnes RN and D. Keith Barnes MD Presidential Endowed Chair at the University of Utah College of Nursing. Dedicated to combating sexual and gender-based violence, Valentine leads multiple research collaborations in Utah and throughout the United States. She holds leadership positions at the state, national and international levels, actively shaping best practice recommendations to mitigate violence and improve survivor care. Valentine has received numerous awards for her research and policy work, including induction as a Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and in the American Academy of Nursing. She was recognized with the prestigious Utah Governor’s Medal for Science and Technology in the Academia/Research category in 2023, the highest civilian scientific and technological achievement award in the state. Valentine received a doctorate in nursing from Duquesne University, a master’s in nursing education from the University of Utah and a BSN from the University of Arizona.
