Sexual Assault and Psychosocial Support among Survivors at Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2023-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: In Ethiopia, the pooled prevalence of lifetime sexual violence was found to be
39.33% in 2018. Sexual assault survivors face medical and psychological problems after the
assault. Relevant and reliable data on sexual assault is critical to inform the knowledge we have
about the burden, risk factors, circumstances and consequences surrounding sexual assault.
Objectives: This study aims to assess the sexual assault experiences and psychosocial support of
sexual assault survivors at Gandhi hospital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: The study used a mixed method approach including a facility based cross-sectional
design and case study design. The study was conducted at Gandhi memorial hospital one-stop
center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 176 survivors and 6 key informants were recruited.
Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 and qualitative data was coded using open
code version 4.03 and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: A total of one hundred seventy-six (176) women sexual assault survivors participated in
this study. From the 176 women, majority 76.7% of the women were between the ages of 14 to
19. Majority 91.5% of survivors reported vaginal rape. The perpetrator was a stranger in 55.1% of
the cases and 44.9% of assaults were committed in the perpetrator’s home. Among the respondents
98.3% disclosed the assault to at least one person. Majority 70.5% of the survivors received
positive social reaction while 94.3% received some kind of support after the sexual assault. With
respect to the consequences suffered by survivors after the assault, 9.7% had unwanted pregnancy,
45.5% had depression, 63.8% had anxiety and 63.1% had post-traumatic stress disorder. Regarding
predictors of mental health consequences, social reaction was found to be a significant predictor
of PTSD with (p < 0.05), for every unit increase in social reaction there is 0.442 times decrease in
PTSD diagnosis with (P < 0.05, OR 0.442, 95% CI 0.222, 0.880). Service providers at the one-
stop center mentioned that they provide medical, psychological, and legal services for survivors in
their center. The service providers also stated that the reaction the survivors receive from their
social groups is mostly negative. Some of the service providers mentioned that survivors not
coming to hospital early is a challenge. Another challenge pointed out was the lack of timely
training and short working period within the center. For this reason, service providers
recommended that the length of time they work in the center be extended to gain more experience
and that training should be provided to professionals before they start working in the center.
Conclusions: Most survivors in this study were aged between 14 and 19 implying that adolescent
aged girls are most vulnerable for sexual assault. Majority of the survivors reported receiving
positive social reaction and psychosocial support after the sexual assault. Survivors also reported
consequences like unwanted pregnancy, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Social reaction was found to be a significant predictor of PTSD with every unit increase in social
reaction having 0.442 times decrease in PTSD diagnosis. Thus, these findings can be used as input
for future prevention strategies, health education programs and for improving service provision
for sexual assault survivors.
Description
Keywords
Sexual Assault, Psychosocial Support