• Denise V D'Angelo, Yang Liu, Kathleen C Basile, Sharon G Smith, Jieru Chen, Norah W Friar, and Mark Stevens.
• Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: DDAngelo@cdc.gov.
• Am J Prev Med. 2024 Mar 1; 66 (3): 389398389-398.

IntroductionSexual violence is a major public health problem in the U.S. that is associated with numerous health impacts, including pregnancy. U.S. population-based estimates (2010-2012) found that three million women experienced a rape-related pregnancy during their lifetimes. The current study presents more recent estimates of rape and sexual coercion-related pregnancy and examines prevalence by demographic characteristics.MethodsData years 2016/2017 were pooled from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, a random-digit-dial telephone survey of U.S. non-institutionalized adults 18 years and older. The analysis, conducted in 2023, examined lifetime experience of rape-related pregnancy, sexual coercion-related pregnancy, or both among U.S. women. Authors calculated prevalence estimates with 95% CIs and conducted pairwise chi-square tests (p-value<0.05) to describe experiences by current age, race/ethnicity, and region of residence among U.S. women overall and among victims.ResultsOne in 20 women in the U.S., or over 5.9 million women, experienced a pregnancy from either rape, sexual coercion, or both during their lifetimes. Non-Hispanic Multiracial women experienced a higher prevalence of all three outcomes compared with non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic women. Among victims who experienced pregnancy from rape, 28% experienced a sexually transmitted disease, 66% were injured, and over 80% were fearful or concerned for their safety.ConclusionsPregnancy as a consequence of rape or sexual coercion is experienced by an estimated six million U.S. women. Prevention efforts may include healthcare screenings to identify violence exposure and use of evidence-based prevention approaches to reduce sexual violence.Published by Elsevier Inc.

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