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Complete Health Indicator Report of Child sexual abuse, self-reported

Definition

Self-reported child sexual abuse data is retrospective data collected from adults via three questions in the Utah BRFSS Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Module and youth via the Utah YRBS tier 2 ACEs and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) questionnaire. Adult prevalence is looking retrospectively at their whole childhood (<18), while youth prevalence only looks back at the previous 12 months.

Numerator

The number of youth or adults who indicated at least one instance of sexual abuse on the YRBS (2021) or BRFSS (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020).

Denominator

The total number of youth or adults who provided any response to the sexual abuse question/s on the YRBS (2021) or BRFSS (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020).

Data Interpretation Issues

BRFSS (Adults) 1. How often did anyone at least 5 years older than you or an adult, ever touch you sexually? Would you say? 2. How often did anyone at least 5 years older than you or an adult, try to make you touch them sexually? Would you say? 3. How often did anyone at least 5 years older than you or an adult, force you to have sex? Would you say? (Possible answers: Never, Once, More than once; questions refer to the time period before the respondent was 18 years of age) YRBS (Youth) During the past 12 months, how many times did anyone force you to do sexual things that you did not want to do? (Count such things as kissing, touching, or being physically forced to have sexual intercourse.) (Possible answers: 0, 1, 2 or 3, 4 or 5, or 6+) Response options from both surveys were dichotomized into whether or not sexual abuse occurred at all. The responses are subjective, however, the subjective reality is what seems to matter when considering the potential for long-term negative impacts.

Why Is This Important?

All types of child abuse represent a threat to public health. Child sexual abuse is one of eight commonly tracked adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and research into child abuse and neglect (CAN) and ACEs has consistently shown the potential for many negative long-term impacts on health, opportunity, and well-being. Tracking child abuse prevalence is a complicated task and some of the best data available are self-reported retrospective data which gives a more complete view of prevalence over child protective services or hospital data.

Healthy People Objective IVP-38:

Reduce nonfatal child maltreatment
U.S. target: 8.5 maltreatment victims per 1,000 children

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

When comparing BRFSS data, the prevalence of sexual child abuse in Utah is higher than nationally (13.9% or ~1 in 7 vs 11.6% or ~1 in 9). National prevalence comes from a 2018 Merrick, et al. study that included 2011-2014 BRFSS data from 23 states, while Utah prevalence is from the ACEs Module included in the Utah BRFSS in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Source: Merrick, M.T., Ford, D.C., Ports, K. A., Guinn, A. S. (2018). Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences From the 2011-2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 23 States. JAMA Pediatrics, 172(11), 1038-1044.

Evidence-based Practices

Promote safe stable nurturing relationships and environments for all children by: *Strengthen economic support for families *Strengthen social norms to connect with and support parents and youth *Enhance parenting skills to promote healthy child development *Promote quality care and education early in life *Intervene to lessen harm and prevent future risk


Graphical Data Views

Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (YRBS/youth and BRFSS/adults) by sex and data source, Utah, 2021 (YRBS) and 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020 (BRFSS)

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confidence limits

Female adults indicated a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than male adults (~1 in 5 vs ~1 in 12). Female youth also indicated a similar significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse in the last 12 months than male youth (also ~1 in 5 vs ~1 in 12).
Males vs. FemalesAdults/youthPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- atorDenom- inator
Record Count: 6
MaleAdults8.68.09.3935
MaleYouth8.26.410.5699
FemaleAdults19.218.320.1significantly higher than adult males2,347
FemaleYouth21.418.025.2significantly higher than male youth761
TotalAdults13.913.314.53,284
TotalYouth14.812.817.21,471

Data Notes

Adult/BRFSS and youth/YRBS sexual abuse data are each collected with different questions that include different time frames. The sexual abuse question utilized in the YRBS has only been asked one time in 2021, while the BRFSS question has been asked in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (YRBS/youth and BRFSS/adults) by grade/age-group, Utah, 2021 (YRBS) and 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020 (BRFSS)

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confidence limits

11th-grade youth respondents indicated the highest prevalence of sexual abuse in the last 12 months, significantly higher than the overall youth prevalence (~1 in 5 vs ~1 in 7). Adults 35-49 and 50-64 indicated a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the overall state adult prevalence (~1 in 6 vs ~1 in 7) and adults 18-34 and 65+ indicated a significantly lower prevalence of sexual abuse than the overall state adult prevalence (~1 in 8 and 1 in 9 vs ~1 in 7).
PercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- atorDenom- inator
Record Count: 8
9th graders11.27.616.2480
10th graders16.512.821.0474
11th graders19.014.724.2302
12th graders13.37.921.5201
Ages 18-3411.910.913.0significantly lower than the state prevalence672
Ages 35-4915.814.717.1significantly higher than the state prevalence927
Ages 50-6415.914.717.2significantly higher than the state prevalence933
Ages 65+11.410.412.5significantly lower than the state prevalence752

Data Notes

Adult/BRFSS and youth/YRBS sexual abuse data are each collected with different questions that include different time frames. The sexual abuse question utilized in the YRBS has only been asked one time in 2021, while the BRFSS question has been asked in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by race/ethnicity, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020

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confidence limits

Adults who indicated Black/African American (Non-Hispanic), Unknown, or American Indian/Alaska Native (non-Hispanic) had a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than all races and ethnicities together (~1 in 4 and 1 in 5 vs ~1 in 7).
Race/ethnicity groupPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 9
Hispanic/Latino15.913.818.2279
Two or more races9.35.615.025
American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic/Latino21.014.828.9significantly higher than the state prevalence48
Asian, non-Hispanic/Latino9.25.415.321
Black/African American, non-Hispanic/Latino26.017.137.6significantly higher than the state prevalence32
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic/Latino15.38.226.914
White, non-Hispanic/Latino13.512.914.22,833
Unknown21.414.131.3significantly higher than the state prevalence32
All races/ethnicities13.913.314.53,284

Data Notes

Analysis by race and ethnicity only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by sexual orientation, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020

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confidence limits

Adults who indicated a sexual orientation other than heterosexual (homosexual, bisexual, or other) had a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 4 vs ~1 in 8).
PercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 2
Heterosexual13.212.613.8significantly lower than the state prevalence2,942
Other24.721.428.3significantly higher than the state prevalence295

Data Notes

Analysis by sexual orientation only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by disability type, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020

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confidence limits

Adults who indicated any type of disability (cognitive, mobility, self-care, independent living, difficulty seeing/blind, or difficulty hearing/deaf) all had a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence and than adults with no disability (~1 in 3-4 vs ~1 in 8).
Disability typePercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 7
Cognitive disability29.527.032.0significantly higher than the state prevalence682
Mobility disability29.726.033.7significantly higher than the state prevalence582
Self-care disability36.329.543.7significantly higher than the state prevalence176
Independent living disability33.329.637.2significantly higher than the state prevalence381
Difficulty seeing or blind24.319.929.3significantly higher than the state prevalence183
Difficulty hearing or deaf25.420.231.4significantly higher than the state prevalence216
No disability12.211.512.9significantly lower than the state prevalence1,649

Data Notes

Analysis by disability type only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by education, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020

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confidence limits

Adults with an education level less than a high school or some post high school indicated a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the overall state adult prevalence (~1 in 6 vs ~1 in 7), while adult college graduates indicated a significantly lower prevalence than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 10 vs ~1 in 7).
Education levelPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 5
Less than high school17.114.420.2significantly higher than the state prevalence169
H.S. grad or G.E.D.14.012.915.2820
Some post high school15.614.616.7significantly higher than the state prevalence1,232
College graduate10.59.711.4significantly lower than the state prevalence1,059
Total13.913.314.53,284

Data Notes

Analysis by education only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by income, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020

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confidence limits

Adults who indicated a household income of <$25,000 a year had a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 5 vs ~1 in 7), while adults with household incomes of $75,000+ indicated a significantly lower prevalence than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 8 vs ~1 in 7).
Income categoryLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 5
<$25,00020.818.922.9significantly higher than the state prevalence635
$25,000-$49,99914.613.216.0660
$50,000-$74,99913.312.014.8521
$75,000+12.111.213.0significantly lower than the state prevalence1,069
Total13.913.314.53,284

Data Notes

Analysis by income only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by local health district, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020

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confidence limits

Adults in Summit County and TriCounty had a significantly lower prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the state prevalence (~1 in 10 and 1 in 9 vs ~1 in 7).
Local health districtPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 14
Bear River12.610.614.9180
Central12.39.415.9163
Davis County13.511.915.3307
Salt Lake County14.413.415.5952
San Juan12.48.417.945
Southeast15.211.919.2126
Southwest15.813.618.4225
Summit9.97.313.5significantly lower than the state prevalence61
Tooele15.212.318.5163
TriCounty11.39.413.6significantly lower than the state prevalence167
Utah County13.111.714.5462
Wasatch11.48.615.084
Weber-Morgan15.613.717.7322
State of Utah13.913.314.53,284

Data Notes

Analysis by geography only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.


Self-reported child sexual abuse prevalence (BRFSS, age-adjusted) by small area, Utah, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2020

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confidence limits

Adults in the Utah Small Areas of Layton/South Weber, South Salt Lake, Kearns V2, Taylorsville (East)/Murray (West), and Orem (North) had a significantly higher prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 4-6 vs ~1 in 7). Adults in the Utah Small Areas of Tremonton, Bountiful, Salt Lake City (Avenues), Salt Lake City (Foothill/East Bench), Millcreek (South), Millcreek (East), West Jordan (Southeast), Sandy (Center) V2, Draper, Park City, Daggett, and Uintah County, and Delta/Fillmore had a significantly lower prevalence of sexual abuse during their childhood than the overall state prevalence (~1 in 10-20 vs ~1 in 7).
Utah Small AreasPercentageLower LimitUpper LimitNoteNumer- ator
Record Count: 100
Brigham City16.110.424.130
Box Elder Co (Other) V211.26.418.716
Tremonton5.62.412.5significantly lower than the state prevalence, *interpret w/caution8
Logan V214.911.020.054
North Logan11.06.318.520
Cache (Other)/Rich (All) V210.66.317.524
Hyrum14.26.229.3*interpret w/caution7
Smithfield18.911.230.216
Ben Lomond14.410.818.961
Weber County (East)14.110.019.547
Morgan County16.79.328.216
Ogden (Downtown)18.413.624.448
South Ogden17.412.723.454
Roy/Hooper16.212.021.655
Riverdale14.79.821.333
Clearfield Area/Hooper15.211.619.858
Layton/South Weber17.714.321.7significantly higher than the state prevalence98
Kaysville/Fruit Heights11.47.716.630
Syracuse12.77.919.923
Centerville15.48.626.3*interpret w/caution13
Farmington18.310.031.121
North Salt Lake12.16.521.6*interpret w/caution11
Woods Cross/West Bountiful11.46.818.615
Bountiful6.24.19.2significantly lower than the state prevalence31
SLC (Rose Park)17.210.926.025
SLC (Avenues)8.35.113.3significantly lower than the state prevalence17
SLC (Foothill/East Bench)5.53.010.0significantly lower than the state prevalence14
Magna13.98.621.824
SLC (Glendale) V220.613.630.123
West Valley (Center)11.07.615.739
West Valley (West) V213.17.721.618
West Valley (East) V214.710.021.039
SLC (Downtown) V216.511.323.632
SLC (Southeast Liberty)9.15.315.117
South Salt Lake22.014.132.7significantly higher than the state prevalence29
SLC (Sugar House)18.012.026.137
Millcreek (South)6.83.513.1significantly lower than the state prevalence14
Millcreek (East)4.92.110.7significantly lower than the state prevalence, *interpret w/caution12
Holladay V215.99.824.827
Cottonwood11.27.516.441
Kearns V220.814.828.3significantly higher than the state prevalence38
Taylorsville (E)/Murray (W)23.516.931.7significantly higher than the state prevalence48
Taylorsville (West)18.413.325.041
Murray18.412.626.240
Midvale16.210.524.127
West Jordan (Northeast) V219.112.727.532
West Jordan (Southeast)7.74.812.1significantly lower than the state prevalence20
West Jordan (W)/Copperton13.58.820.329
South Jordan V216.611.922.640
Daybreak18.911.928.722
Sandy (West)19.313.127.634
Sandy (Center) V28.14.813.4significantly lower than the state prevalence19
Sandy (Northeast)6.32.216.7*interpret w/caution7
Sandy (Southeast)14.39.221.425
Draper7.74.712.5significantly lower than the state prevalence22
Riverton/Bluffdale17.111.923.938
Herriman11.57.617.031
Tooele County (Other)14.39.221.637
Tooele Valley15.212.118.9124
Eagle Mountain/Cedar Valley10.05.118.8*interpret w/caution11
Lehi12.38.717.045
Saratoga Springs11.86.620.017
American Fork13.69.319.437
Alpine13.25.827.3*interpret w/caution9
Pleasant Grove/Lindon11.68.016.542
Orem (North)20.614.927.9significantly higher than the state prevalence39
Orem (West)10.76.517.125
Orem (East)10.35.618.3*interpret w/caution20
Provo/BYU12.27.818.627
Provo (West City Center)15.49.923.227
Provo (East City Center)8.84.416.714
Salem City12.15.923.5*interpret w/caution7
Spanish Fork15.010.121.834
Springville19.513.926.645
Mapleton6.82.517.0*interpret w/caution6
Utah County (South) V218.010.129.8*interpret w/caution13
Payson12.88.418.928
Park City8.05.112.3significantly lower than the state prevalence29
Summit County (East)12.07.818.030
Wasatch County11.48.615.084
Daggett and Uintah County9.97.712.6significantly lower than the state prevalence95
Duchesne County13.09.917.072
Nephi/Mona7.73.914.7*interpret w/caution11
Delta/Fillmore7.34.312.4significantly lower than the state prevalence20
Sanpete Valley12.38.217.942
Central (Other)16.110.124.655
Richfield/Monroe/Salina13.08.619.332
Carbon County18.113.124.673
Emery County9.55.815.126
Grand County19.411.431.027
Blanding/Monticello13.99.220.730
San Juan County (Other)9.04.018.9*interpret w/caution15
St. George16.212.420.974
Washington Co (Other) V223.713.428.5*interpret w/caution13
Washington City18.011.427.124
Hurricane/La Verkin11.37.217.522
Ivins/Santa Clara13.78.022.614
Cedar City15.010.521.136
Southwest LHD (Other)14.89.821.835
State of Utah13.913.314.53,284

Data Notes

Analysis by geography only utilizes age-adjusted adult data collected in the 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2020 BRFSS and not youth/YRBS data.

More Resources and Links

Additional indicator data by state and county may be found on these websites:

Medical literature can be queried at PubMed library.

Page Content Updated On 10/07/2022, Published on 06/21/2023
The information provided above is from the Utah Department of Health and Human Services IBIS-PH website (https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Tue, 05 November 2024 3:28:20 from Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health website: https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/ ".

Content updated: Fri, 18 Oct 2024 10:58:48 MDT