Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
2008
Abstract
In South Africa, an integrated model for post-rape care by nurses in a rural district hospital, which included a designated room for medical management and guidelines for providing reproductive health and HIV services, improved the quality of care provided. However, nurses remained reluctant to collect forensic evidence that could be used for prosecuting perpetrators. South Africa has developed a strong policy framework outlining medical management of rape survivors, which includes provision of HIV testing and post-exposure prophylaxis and emergency contraception, ideally within 72 hours. However, implementation has been hampered by numerous obstacles, both in health care infrastructure and policy, and in linkages between medical care and criminal justice services. To address these issues, in 2004 FRONTIERS collaborated with partners to develop and test a strengthened and integrated model for post-rape treatment. The study was implemented in a hospital serving a large rural population in Mpumalanga province, and researchers conducted interviews with over 50 health care workers, pharmacists, police, and other service providers. As detailed in this brief, quality of care was assessed through a review of 334 hospital charts and interviews with 109 rape survivors.
Recommended Citation
"South Africa: Integrated approach improves quality of post-rape care," FRONTIERS OR Summary. Washington, DC: Population Council, 2008.
DOI
10.31899/rh14.1003
Language
English
Project
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
Included in
Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, International Public Health Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Women's Health Commons