Introduction -- What is the National Violence Against Women Survey? -- Prevalence and incidence of rape -- Rape prevalence by age -- Characteristics of rape victims, rapists, and rape incidents -- Injury and health outcomes -- Victims' involvement in the justice system -- Questions for future research -- Notes.

In 1995 and 1996, the National Violence Against Women Survey (NVAWS) was con­ ducted to measure the extent of violence against women. This nationally representative telephone survey asked 8,000 women and 8,000 men about their experiences as rape victims.

Despite an increase in research on rape in the past 30 years, gaps remain in the understanding of rape victimization. The survey elicited information on the prevalence of rape victimization by gender, age, and race/ethnicity; characteristics of rape victims, rapists, and rape incidents; the relationship between rape victimization as a minor and as an adult; physical, social, and psychological consequences of rape victimization; and satisfaction with the justice system.

This research was sponsored by the U. S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, under NIJ grant number 93-IJ-CX-0012.

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection