Sexual Violence Surveillance: Release of Updated Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements

CDC Updates Sexual Violence Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements for Improved Data Collection

CDC’s Injury Center has released Sexual Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements, Version 2.0. This publication is designed to promote consistency in the use of terminology and data collection across organizations that work to prevent sexual violence.

Sexual violence is a profound social and public health problem in the U.S., with broad affects for males and females across the lifespan.

Changes that impact data collection and sexual violence prevention have occurred since the original document was published 12 years ago. The updated document addresses those changes by providing more detail on the various definitions of “sexual violence” and by addressing how technology is used to perpetrate unwanted sexual experiences. Additional recommended data elements are also presented.

Learn More

• Sexual Violence Surveillance: Uniform Definitions and Recommended Data Elements, Version 2.0
• Understanding Sexual Violence Factsheet
• The National Sexual Violence Resource Center
• Prevent Connect
• Contact us at: dvpinquiries@cdc.gov