title: Barriers to Healthcare Provision for Victims of Sexual Assault: A Grounded Theory Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Victims of sexual assault need comprehensive healthcare services to deal with the consequences of their experience. However, there are still many girls/women that delay seeking healthcare after they experience sexual assault.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the process of health care and clinical services for victims of sexual assault in the health care centers of Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative study based on the grounded theory method. The sample consisted of 23 health care providers and 10 victims of sexual violence. Unstructured interviews and observations were used for data collection. Constant comparative analysis was used according to the Strauss and Corbin method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis of all data led to the extraction of four categories: "performing routines", "victims' expectations", "conflict between expectations of victims and existing healthcare services", and the core category of "neglect of healthcare providers to address the needs and expectations of victims". Providers were offering health care to the victims of sexual violence regardless of their needs. Due to this neglect, victims sought illegal solutions to overcome the consequences that led to social stigma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate the lack of mutual understanding between health care providers and victims of sexual violence in relation to the expectations and priorities of victims.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Shadab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahali
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modarress University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Eesa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mohammadi
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Minoor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamyian
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kashanian
authors.affiliation: Population Family and School Health Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eslami
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Group, Health Metrics Research Center, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, The Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montazeri
keywords: Healthcare; Qualitative Research; Sexual Violence; Victim