SV is a significant public health issue nationwide and across Virginia. SV includes a wide range of sexual behaviors such as acts of non-consensual intercourse, sexual harassment, coercion, and sexual trafficking which impact the physical and psychological health and well-being of victims. SV often occurs early in life but has life-long physical and psychological consequences. Exposure to SV is well documented to increase the likelihood of suffering from chronic illnesses, suicidal or depressive thoughts and actions, substance use, eating disorders, high-risk sexual behaviors and contracting sexually transmitted infections. SV also creates an economic burden due in large part to loss of productivity and increased medical costs.
In construction