Snapshot of What We Know

According to RAINN,

  • 1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys under the age of 18 experience sexual abuse or assault.

  • 93% of the perpetrators are known to the victim

  • 34% of the time they are family members

  • CSA survivors are 4x more likely to develop symptoms of substance abuse and PTSD as adults

  • 3x more likely to develop a major depressive episode as adults

Researchers have been transparent that there is a significant gap in the body of research around CSA survivorship. We don’t have an accurate picture of how many CSA survivors are pregnant. In their study, researchers Brunton and Dryer have found that,

compared with [women with] no history of abuse, child sexual abuse survivors may have more concerns with their care, greater health complaints, fear childbirth, and have difficulty with delivery. They also have higher levels of PTSD symptomology and anxiety, consumed more harmful substances, and had greater concerns with their appearance, pooer health, sleep, and may also have a higher risk of re-victimization.

CIB Research

In partnership with Pacific Oaks College and the cultural psychology department, our research will invite survivors of childhood sexual abuse (csa) who are family planning, perinatal, and parenting 0-5 year olds to participate in a survey around their experiences at each stage of their reproductive and parenting journey. We invite survey participants to share their experiences at the intersections of their identities as well as to share the experiences with care from providers across the spectrum of reproductive and mental health.

Interested participants will be offered the option of sign up for a longer form sit down storytelling session with a team member. These storytelling sessions will be audio recorded. Both the surveys and storytelling sessions will be utilized in the following ways:

  • Building training curriculum for care providers to reduce re-traumatization and increase wellness and care for survivors

  • Increase awareness, empathy, and action around the issue of childhood sexual abuse and in reproductive wellness

  • Develop consultation support for care providers

  • Develop an understanding of what CSA parents need to support themselves and their children

  • Develop resources and direct service support

Your Voice Matters

Your voice will be heard by care providers including gynecologists, midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, fertility specialists, and others who may connect with in the first five years of parenting.

  • A private webpage with access to resources that will be developed based on the expressed needs of survivors.

  • First access to survivor support services as they are developed such as the Cactus In Bloom Family Retreat and the Care Provider Directory.

  • Help build public awareness for the needs and care of CSA folks.