The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recognizes that there are barriers to access and care delivery for survivors of sexual violence, abuse, and exploitation. To address disparities in care and ensure more equitable treatment of this at-risk population, the AAFP recommends that all clinicians and healthcare delivery teams undergo trauma informed care training.
The AAFP recognizes that while health care providers may determine which services they provide to survivors of sexual assault, immediate referral should be available for any aspect of services. Prophylactic treatment of sexually transmitted infections should be administered immediately.
To minimize retraumatization, survivors and their children should be provided with team-based care that includes social and community-based services. These services should include treatment of physical injuries; access to emergency contraception and appropriate collection and preservation of forensic evidence consistent with chain of custody requirements. Prompt identification and management of psychological sequelae of sexual assault includes but is not limited to posttraumatic stress disorder and potential retraumatization. (2002) (September 2024 COD)