IndexSocial Determinants of HealthIntrapersonalInterpersonalCommunityOrganizationPolicySolutionsIntrapersonalInterpersonalCommunityOrganizationPolicySummaryPublic Health ImplicationsAuthor ContributionsReferencesDespite federal laws and regulations put in place, one in five women is affected by sexual violence at some point during their career university. Similarly, one in 71 men suffers sexual violence during their time at university. Every 73 seconds in the United States a person is raped and/or sexually assaulted and on average there have been 433,648 victims of this form of violence. Although all genders are affected, women get the highest statistics regarding sexual abuse. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay From 2016 to 2018, the University of Iowa Rape Victim Advocacy Program reported 129 cases of rape and 112 cases of sexual assault on campus , while 58 incidents were reported off campus. These sexual violence problems have increased dramatically and are predominantly unreported. Cases of sexual violence continue to go unreported for reasons such as insecurity, guilt, victim blaming/shaming or fear of still being in danger. This negatively affects the outcome of the crime because without reporting the incident, the person who committed the crime is able to attack other people, which only makes the problem more widespread and complex. During the first two months of the first and second semesters upon arrival, both men and women are at increased risk of sexual violence. This is mainly due to the fact that students are placed in a new environment where irresponsible actions are performed. We have chosen to focus on the topic of sexual violence at the state and national levels and on college campuses throughout the state of Iowa, with a primary and more in-depth focus on the University of Iowa. We hope to inform people in our community and nationally about all aspects of sexual violence and how it can potentially be improved in order to create a safer environment for people in our community and nationally. Our group will touch on the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and national levels of the ecological model in order to educate those on how each phase affects us. Social Determinants of Health Intrapersonal Sexual violence on college campuses can be influenced by social determinants of health – intrapersonal, interpersonal, community, organizational, and political levels, all of which identify environmental factors and influences that can influence behaviors. The intrapersonal level focuses on the individual's attitudes, knowledge, behavior, and beliefs. In the context of sexual assault, intrapersonal would represent the offender's beliefs and why he believes or thinks what he is doing is okay. Sexual violence on college campuses is generally aimed at women, particularly freshmen. Sexual violence is common on college campuses, of all the sexual violence that occurs, 30% occurs on college campuses. In 30% of sexual assaults that occur on campuses, women are primarily attacked, making them the largest group of people who are sexually assaulted. 25% of women admit to having suffered sexual violence during their university years. Typically, women are not seen in power, but men are. Throughout history, women have beenrepeatedly repressed and even today this is demonstrated by the number of women who suffer sexual assaults by men. Men are the main perpetrators of sexual violence. They prey on women because they are believed to be helpless, vulnerable, insecure and lacking in self-confidence. Interpersonal Rather than focusing on one's beliefs and behaviors, the interpersonal level relies on said person's social networking and social support systems. On an interpersonal level, many people who have been victims of sexual abuse early in life are more likely to become abusers themselves. Most victims are afraid to speak out, so they are left with all that baggage alone and with little to no support. One-third of people who experience sexual violence at a young age grow up to become sexual offenders. Recent research also shows that being abused as a young person causes many psychological problems such as multiple personality disorder and depression. Many mental health problems can develop after sexual assault. Self-blame is very popular among victims. Feelings of shame and guilt have been reported along with unhealthy ways of coping with trauma. These may include addiction, self-harm, survivor's guilt, etc. These could be the reasons why people decide to keep sexual violence to themselves and have no community support. Their community is unable to help with such mental health issues when they go untold or when they are unknown. Community The community level of the socio-ecological framework model focuses on the social norms that exist between groups/individuals, which may limit or enhance healthy behaviors. This relates to the topic of sexual violence because it is almost normal to take advantage of someone and get away with it because the victim is afraid to speak. This happens because they think no one will believe them or because they are simply scared. It creates this norm of not saying anything and just letting it go, which leads to further aggression. At the community level, many cases of sexual violence go unreported or brought to the community's attention. On college campuses, one of the biggest problems besides high rates of sexual violence is the low rate of assault reports. Of the one in five women who experience sexual violence, only one will report the attack. Without reporting, the act of sexual violence goes unreported leaving the perpetrator with the opportunity to attack another victim. Of the 2,071 male college students interviewed, 950 of them admitted to sexually assaulting other students more than ten times, mostly after alcohol was involved. Just under 50% of male students admitted to sexually violating another student, but most complaints went unreported, without bringing the problem to the college or community's attention. Organization Organizational factors include rules, regulations, and policies that can influence a person's behavior. , both positively and negatively. This may include stigma, tolerance, position, security, etc. On college campuses, the risk of sexual violence may increase. Because new students are in a new environment, rates of sexual violence typically increase around new people. The University of Iowa is a large state university located in Iowa City, Iowa. Over the last four years there has been a constant increase in sexual violence. In 2013, 54 sexual assaults were reported. In the following years there were increases in the last year reported with data on sexual violence in 2016 there were 123 sexual assaults reported,doubling the rates from 2013. Reports from 2016 show that 47 of the sexual assault reports occurred on campus while 52 were off campus and the rest were unknown. Half of all sexual assaults occur when an element of alcohol is involved, this statement is true, especially for sexual assaults that occur on college campuses. Politics Political factors focus on local, state, and federal policies and laws that may impact health and health. well being. Sexual assault policies in the state of Iowa vary depending on the situation and circumstances. There is a first, second or third degree level of crime, although all sexual assault crimes are classified as felonies. Conviction of first degree in Iowa would carry a life sentence, second degree up to 25 years in prison, and third degree is punishable by a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine that can range from $1,000 to $10,000.7 Although there are laws in place for perpetrators of sexual assault just hanging out. 7% of criminals are actually convicted of the crime. About 6% of people are arrested due to crime and. 6% are actually sentenced to any prison sentence. The actual length of the sentence and the amount of the fine depend on the case and state, but many sexual assault cases receive less prison time than the law requires, and most sentences are reduced after the initial sentencing. Intrapersonal Solutions Being abused is a difficult obstacle for people to overcome, people don't like to talk about it and some people have even admitted they are ashamed. It is also very common for people to develop some mental illnesses resulting from the trauma they have experienced. Many people feel like they have no support, but when they feel supported by family and community they are more likely to get help. Research conducted states that counseling can improve mental health and help people overcome personal problems and traumas. Counseling is available in many different ways, such as in person, online or over the phone. When victims feel support, they increase their risk of receiving help. The help they receive may help combat their mental illness in some way. Even if counseling isn't an option, talking to someone you can trust helps. Talking about the assault can make people feel supported. The University of Iowa offers free counseling to enrolled students through the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, or RVAP. The website is live and has contact information on where the building is located and how to make an appointment for a consultation. Interpersonal With rising rates of sexual violence, many universities are trying to find a way to protect students from sexual violence. Goshen College has implemented a solution. Bystander training began in the spring of 2015. Today it is known as PIN, a program in place to select students who will become trained spectators. Trained bystanders are equipped to respond in dangerous situations to help those in need. The program also allows students to further educate students as the program is student-driven. According to Goshen College, nearly the entire student body has been trained as bystanders, ready to properly intervene in uncomfortable situations that can escalate. Community One way to help solve this problem and make people more aware is to involve the community, school, etc. with sexual violence organizations, making it a reality for everyone so that it is not simply pushed aside as if it were not important or nothad happened. Victims must be listened to and people must be informed, otherwise no one will ever do anything to stop this from happening. One organization that does good work in this regard is RAINN. RAINN is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Their website has a little bit of everything; statistics, survivor stories, the latest news and a prevention navigator. A prevention navigator is a tool that schools and colleges can use to find the sexual violence program that best suits their needs or situation. It allows users to browse programs and view program databases based on key criteria and allows you to view student feedback and administrative information. Here at the University of Iowa there is a website through the Office of the Sexual Misconduct Response Coordinator or OSMRC. The website has a space where you can report sexual assault, where you can report a problem, and also has resources for victims. The University of Iowa is attempting to make campus safer for all people who need to come to campus. Organization The University of Iowa has taken many measures to try to ensure safety throughout campus. College campuses are now required to provide accommodations and protections to anyone who has experienced sexual assault. While the survivor has the option to report the assault to police and law enforcement, the campus saVE act ensures they will be protected from the person who violated them.13 The Rape Victim Advocacy Program is another program designed to help anyone affected by sexual assault in many surrounding counties. The website and building have many online and in-person resources that can help you. On the website they offer a lot of information on how to get help medically, mentally and academically. Additionally, they offer in-person services such as counseling and support groups. Through their services they do not charge for any services offered, under Iowa law they are not allowed to disclose information.8 The University of Iowa also has a website, the Office of Misconduct Response Coordinator, which offers resources such as a place to report a problem of sexual misconduct and harassment, stalking and dating violence. It also provides information on policies, how to help and get involved, and resources for people who have experienced sexual assault. These resources include personal accommodations, help finding a lawyer, investigations, and information about your rights. Around the campus there are blue telephone posts, they are there as a resource for anyone in difficulty. The telephone station notifies the university police and signals with a flashing blue light above. A dispatcher will also hear everything that happens.7PolicyAt the state level, they have implemented laws that dictate what sexual assault is and the punishment if it is carried out. In the state of Iowa, sexual harassment is defined as performing a sexual act without consent, by force, with the threat of violence, when the other person is incapacitated or unconscious, or under the age of consent . If a situation arose where the law was violated, it would be cause for action. The punishment would be sexual assault in the first, second or third degree depending on the situation and circumstances. Summary Unfortunately, sexual violence and rape are a major problem in the United States, especially among college campuses and crowded suburban areas. The purpose of this document is to ensure that the issue of sexual violence and rape is given a voice and to list possible solutions that could help resolve.