Health Consequences Responses and Prevention Strategies of Sexual Violence among Survivors in Selected Hospitals
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Date
2013-03-20
Authors
Osero, O.J.S.
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Abstract
Sexual violence (SV) is a serious public health problem with profound immediate and
long-term impact on physical, social and mental health, both immediately and many
years after the assault. While women and girls are the most visible survivors of sexual
violence, they are far from being the only ones who suffer it. Children of both sexes
constitute a large proportion of abused survivors. Adult men and the handicapped are
minority groups who are also affected but often neglected in research and interventions.
Rape occurs every half hour in Kenya. The nature and health consequences of sexual
violence are not well understood and documented. Whereas there are some studies
conducted on sexual violence there is a clear gap on the investigation of health
consequences, responses and prevention strategies. The aim of this study was to
investigate health consequences, responses and prevention strategies of SV among
survivors in coait: ..Provincial General Hospital, Nairobi Women Hospital and Nyanza
Provincial GeneralHospital. This was a cross-sectional study where both qualitative
and quantitative methods were used to collect data. Two hundred and eighty survivors
were interviewed, focus group discussions held and observation done. Data were
analysed using Predictive Analytics Software (PASW) version 17 and summarized
using frequency tables and bar charts. Chi- square test was used to determine
relationships between variables. The 95% confidence intervals were estimated by
maximum likelihood ratio. Multivariate logistic regression was then used to establish
the relationship between several independent variables and dependent variable. The
results indicated that, 55.4% of those who were sexually abused were minors «18
years) compared to 44.6% who were adults. More females (84.3%) than males (15.7%)
were abused. The result showed that, survivors were violated under various
circumstances including perpetrators or survivors home (50%), while walking home
alone (38%), carjacked (9%) and work place (3%). The study revealed that, sexual
violence was committed while the perpetrators or survivors were in the state of
drunkenness (38%), being alone (32%), during darkness or night (29%), insecurity
(27%) and lured with money (18%) The study revealed that, survivors (77%) suffered
health consequences as a result of sexual violence. The study established that, among
survivors who suffered health -consequences due to SV, there was no significant
differences in the proportions of minors and adults (p=0.772), females and males
(p=0.637), unmarried and married (p=0.426), those with different levels of education
(p=0.813) and those in different occupations (p=0.813). The study revealed that, of the
215 (77%) SV survivors who suffered health consequences, 67% of them had
psychological trauma, 35% physical injuries, 27% gynaecological disorders, 18% STls,
15% HIV, 10% gastrointestinal disorders and 8% unwanted pregnancies. Majority of
the survivors acknowledged the existence of individual based approaches (62%),
community based efforts (68%), healthcare responses (82%) and legal and policy
reform (80%) as responses and prevention strategies to SV. Success of some responses
and strategies was associated with individuals involvement, community participation
and people working together to fight SV. Failure of responses and strategies was
ascribed to poverty, ignorance, lack of commitment from the individual, low attitude in
implementing, evidence interfered with and cases delayed in court. Findings from this
study are useful for all individuals working with survivors, including victim advocates,
community health workers, and policy makers.
Description
HV 9067.S48O8