Resumen

LEHRER, Jocelyn A; LEHRER, Evelyn L  y  OYARZUN, Pamela B. Sexual violence in young men and women in Chile: Results from a 2005 survey of university students. Rev. méd. Chile [online]. 2009, vol.137, n.5, pp. 599-608. ISSN 0034-9887.  doi: 10.4067/S0034-98872009000500002.

Background: Experiences of sexual violence in adolescence and young adulthood have received little attention in Chilean public health research and practice. Aim: To describe the prevalence and contexts of sexual violence victimization in a sample of university students in Chile. Material and Methods: A self-administered, quantitative survey including items on sexual violence was completed by 484 female and 466 male students at a public university in Chile in 2005. Results: Thirty-one percent of women and 21 % of men reported having experienced at least one incident of sexual violence since age 14; the corresponding percentages for the past 12 months were 17% and 12%, respectively. The perpetrators were identified predominantly as an acquaintance; another important fraction corresponded to a partner or a date. Alcohol or other substances were involved in most cases. Among students who indicated having been assaulted, the incident was reported to the police by none of the men and 2% of women. Twenty one percent of women and 9% of men reported having experienced sexual violence before age 14. Conclusions: The high prevalence of sexual violence found in this study indicates that this issue merits further public health attention in Chile.

Palabras clave : Adolescent; Domestic violence; Sex offences.