South African Program Promotes "Resilience" and Improves Post-Rape Care

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The prevalence of rape in South Africa presents a daunting public health challenge. According to a June 2009 study by the South African Medical Research Council, as many as a quarter of all men surveyed admitted to raping a woman or girl. In many cases the attacks happen to children under age 13. The health consequences are significant: in addition to the immediate physical injury and psychological trauma, rape survivors often suffer long-term consequences such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorders, and gynecological disorders, and are at risk of unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.

A Population Council-supported program known as Refentse--meaning resilience in the face of adversity--demonstrates how a rural hospital can improve post-rape care by training nurses to provide integrated medical-care management for rape survivors. The …