{"id":2437,"date":"2014-06-27T14:06:57","date_gmt":"2014-06-27T18:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.229.122.34\/en\/?p=2437"},"modified":"2017-04-03T11:46:55","modified_gmt":"2017-04-03T15:46:55","slug":"one-in-four-sexual-assaults-takes-place-at-a-mass-gathering","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ottawahospital.on.ca\/en\/newsroom\/one-in-four-sexual-assaults-takes-place-at-a-mass-gathering\/","title":{"rendered":"One in four sexual assaults takes place at a mass gathering"},"content":{"rendered":"

Go with and stay with your friends.\u00a0 Keep an eye on each other and everyone\u2019s drinks.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

June 27, 2014 \u2013<\/strong> A recent study has concluded that of the 204 new cases of sexual assault reported to The Ottawa Hospital\u2019s Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Care Program in 2013, 25 per cent of these occurred at mass gatherings, where a group of people came together for a common purpose such as house or cottage parties, music festivals, or city-wide celebrations.<\/p>\n

Previous research into the risk factors for sexual assault focused on college and university students, particularly those in sororities or fraternities. A major risk factor identified was drinking alcohol, which is common at mass gatherings. No studies had ever looked at the risk factors for the public as a whole. The Ottawa Hospital\u2019s grant from the Women\u2019s Xchange funded the hospital\u2019s study.<\/p>\n

The study revealed that the highest incidence of sexual assaults associated with mass gatherings was seen in January, July, September and October, coinciding with New Year\u2019s Eve, Canada Day, University Frosh Week and Halloween celebrations<\/strong>. It also found that nine out of 10 <\/strong>sexually assaulted patients consumed alcohol at mass gatherings, compared with six out of 10 <\/strong>in other settings.<\/p>\n

Other findings included:<\/p>\n