Men Risk Sex Abuse

In a new report, it was shown that men with physical/mental challenges are four times more likely to be sexually abused than able-bodied people.   This report was documented online from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.  Reports have shown women with physical/mental challenges have been in danger of sex abuse for many years.

Approximately 14% of men with physical/mental challenges stated they had gone through some form of sex abuse.  Researchers questioned close to 22,000 men with physical/mental challenges not in mental facilities.  The information was gathered in a 2005 report.

“Men with disabilities are at a heightened risk for lifetime and current sexual violence victimization,” said Monika Mitra of the University of Massachusetts Medical School who led the study. “The most notable finding is that the prevalence of lifetime sexual violence, completed rape and attempted rape against men with disabilities was comparable to that against women without disabilities.”

A person was classified as having a physical/mental challenge for this report if they had a physical, mental, emotional, or health problem for a least one year.  The people that committed these crimes came from a wide range of areas.  These people included: family, strangers, and dates.

Alarming stats:  http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/10/11/men-sex-abuse/14219/