Prevalence statistics shown in Table 2 refer to sexual violence wherein the aggressor is a current or former intimate partner, i.e. husband, boyfriend or cohabiting partner and refer only to physical violence. Physical abuse, psychological abuse, and verbal abuse in the relationship are not included in the statistics. In reality, evidence consistently shows the different forms of violence coexist in domestic violence. This reflects, as closely as possible, the range of definitions used and questions asked in the various studies. In studies where completed forced sex was measured separately from attempted forced sex, the results are presented as two separate percentages.
Sexual assault refers to sexual violence as it is defined by the study.
For example, some study definitions include exhibitionism or forced viewing of pornographic materials as sexual assault while others begin at the level of unwanted sexual touch or fondling. WHO did not participate directly in collecting any of the data, but compiled it from existing studies, listed below. Comparisons between studies must be made with caution because of between-study differences in definitions, sample sizes, data collection approaches and cultural factors. Canada, Toronto Randall M, et al. Chile Morrison A, et al.