![]() ![]() More than a decade of fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has decimated the government and healthcare infrastructure in this region, creating some of the worst health and development indicators in the world. Interventions offering long-term solutions for hyper-vulnerable women are vital, but lacking reintegration programs on SGBV for women, men, and communities are also needed. Women face significant obstacles in seeking services after rape. Rape results not only in physical and psychological trauma, but can destroy family and community structures. Receiving support from their husbands after rape was protective against survivors' feelings of shame and social isolation. ![]() Mixed methods findings show rape survivors were seen as "contaminated" with HIV, contributing to their isolation and over 95% could not access prophylactic care in time. Widowhood, husband abandonment, gang rape, and having a child from rape were significant risk factors for social rejection. ![]() Thirteen percent of women had a child from rape. Twenty-nine percent of raped women were rejected by their families and 6% by their communities. Of the women surveyed, 193 (75.7%) experienced rape. Quantitative and qualitative data underwent thematic and statistical analysis respectively. We then conducted focus groups of 48 women survivors of SGBV to elaborate on survey findings. Using a mixed-methods approach, we surveyed a non-random sample of 255 women attending a referral hospital and two local non-governmental organizations to characterize their experiences of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). Over a decade of fighting amongst an array of armed groups has resulted in extensive human rights abuses, particularly the widespread use of sexual violence against women. The conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the deadliest since World War II. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |