Sexual assault evidence kits (SAEKs) are forensic tools used in emergency departments to collect evidence of an assault from the survivor's body. We sought to determine the perceived barriers to providing sexual assault care in rural and Northwestern Ontario, as reflected through the perspectives of Northern healthcare providers. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with healthcare providers in Northwestern Ontario, and three themes depicting sociocultural barriers were developed: (a) substance use; (b) police involvement; and (c) being Indigenous. These factors were found to influence both survivor credibility and the decision to complete the SAEK. We suggest that emergency departments are an inappropriate site for SAEK use.
Keywords: police; racism; rural healthcare; sexual assault evidence kits; substance use.