Issue focuses on preventing sex assault

ATLANTA, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Most sexual assault programs focus on repeated sexual victimization, but U.S. government programs try to prevent violence before it occurs, officials said.

A supplemental issue of Health Promotion Practice entitled "Evaluating Sexual Violence Prevention Programs," highlights Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's work with four programs to prevent first-time perpetration of male sexual violence, not only to ensure youth safety but also to avoid long-term behavioral consequences such as sexual aggression.

"Sexual violence is a public health burden that drains our nation's human, economic, and health resources," Rita Noonan of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention, said in a statement.

The issue describes the background, implementation and findings of four existing programs involved in a three-year CDC-supported empowerment evaluation to build their capacity.

The CDC chose to work with existing programs around the country because of the growing recognition that most prevention efforts in research institutions do not often get adopted in practice, Noonan said.