Association of sexual violence and human rights violations with physical and mental health in territories of the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
BACKGROUND
Studies from the Eastern Region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have provided anecdotal reports of sexual violence. This study offers a population-based assessment of the prevalence of sexual violence and human rights abuses in specific territories within Eastern DRC.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of and correlations with sexual violence and human rights violations on residents of specific territories of Eastern DRC including information on basic needs, health care access, and physical and mental health.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, population-based, cluster survey of 998 adults aged 18 years or older using structured interviews and questionnaires, conducted over a 4-week period in March 2010.


METHODS
Sexual violence prevalence and characteristics, symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), human rights abuses, and physical and mental health needs among Congolese adults in specific territories of Eastern DRC.


RESULTS
Of the 1005 households surveyed 998 households participated, yielding a response rate of 98.9%. Rates of reported sexual violence were 39.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32.2%-47.2%; n = 224/586) among women and 23.6% (95% CI, 17.3%-29.9%; n = 107/399) among men. Women reported to have perpetrated conflict-related sexual violence in 41.1% (95% CI, 25.6%-56.6%; n = 54/148) of female cases and 10.0% (95% CI, 1.5%-18.4%; n = 8/66) of male cases. Sixty-seven percent (95% CI, 59.0%-74.5%; n = 615/998) of households reported incidents of conflict-related human rights abuses. Forty-one percent (95% CI, 35.3%-45.8%; n = 374/991) of the represented adult population met symptom criteria for MDD and 50.1% (95% CI, 43.8%-56.3%; n = 470/989) for PTSD.


CONCLUSIONS
Self-reported sexual violence and other human rights violations were prevalent in specific territories of Eastern DRC and were associated with physical and mental health outcomes.
Johnson
Kirsten
K
Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Scott
Jennifer
J
Rughita
Bigy
B
Kisielewski
Michael
M
Asher
Jana
J
Ong
Ricardo
R
Lawry
Lynn
L
D000328:Adult; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D045809:Human Rights Abuses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*