Background
Survivors of sexual violence often suffer from both physical and psychological health complications, such as bleedings, sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV/AIDS, rape-related pregnancies and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru, Kenya, lacked a designated place in the hospital where survivors could get comprehensive care. There was not enough counseling support, and vital tests like HIV screening, STI tests and pregnancy tests were rarely performed on the clients. Only 69 survivors were recorded at the hospital between January and October 2008.
About the project
This project was created to improve the care for survivors of sexual violence at Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru. The project team arranged trainings on post-rape care for medical officers, nurses, records officers, pharmacists, laboratory technicians, police and lawyers. A sexual violence care centre was then set up at the hospital, designated and equipped to give comprehensive care and treatment to the survivors. The centre included rooms for examinations, trauma counselling, manual vacuum aspiration for clients in need of abortion and storage of drugs, emergency contraceptives and other medical equipment. A trained counselor was recruited and the medical staff working at the centre were trained on post-trauma counselling. A police desk was also set up nearby where the clients could report their cases
Results
By the end of the four-month project period, 118 survivors of sexual violence had accessed the services at the centre. All of them received post-rape counselling and the majority of them were tested for HIV and given antibiotics for prevention of sexually transmitted infections. Around half of the clients were given pregnancy tests and emergency contraceptives. Interviews with the survivors show that most of them received help within 30 minutes and that they were very satisfied with the care they were given and the staff members’ attitudes towards them.
Year: 2008/2009
Poster overview
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