title: Risk of Sexual Violence: Perspectives and Experiences of Women in a Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
abstract: Sexual violence in conflict situations is gaining worldwide recognition as a human rights issue. There is growing awareness and concern about the risks associated with sexual violence against women. This study was conducted in order to explore the perceptions and experiences of the risk of sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study draws on qualitative, in-depth interviews with women at a hospital in Bukavu. The findings show that women suffered humiliation, torture and beatings during their rape. Most women were raped by a number of men and others were forced to have sex with close family members. The rapist often used extreme brutality against the women which had major long-term consequences for women including unwanted pregnancies and/or HIV/AIDS. Many of the women experienced great uncertainty about their future and that of their children.
authors: School of Built Environment and Development Studies, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, gzihindula@gmail.com.
authors: Ganzamungu
authors: G
authors: Zihindula
authors: Pranitha
authors: P
authors: Maharaj
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult
references: Psychol Bull. 1990 Nov;108(3):339-62
references: 2270232
references: AIDS. 1995 Oct;9(10 ):1171-5
references: 8519454
references: Fam Plann Perspect. 1992 Jan-Feb;24(1):4-11, 19
references: 1601126
references: Confl Health. 2010 May 05;4:9
references: 20444265
references: Violence Vict. 1999 Fall;14(3):261-75
references: 10606433
references: Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2009;88(9):1000-5
references: 19636978
references: Lancet. 2002 Jan 26;359(9303):319-20
references: 11830201
references: Confl Health. 2011 Nov 02;5:25
references: 22047181
references: Confl Health. 2009 Mar 15;3:3
references: 19284879
references: Am J Prev Med. 2000 Nov;19(4):270-5
references: 11064231
references: Reprod Health Matters. 2008 May;16(31):132-41
references: 18513615
references: Reprod Health Matters. 2009 Nov;17(34):10-9
references: 19962633
references: Am J Public Health. 2011 Jun;101(6):1060-7
references: 21566049
references: Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1994 Aug;46(2):221-9
references: 7995463
references: PLoS One. 2011 Jan 18;6(1):e15911
references: 21267467