Rape survivors’ HIV risk high

STUDY: WOMEN IN NEED OF SUPPORT

Research ‘will chart way for health dept to update its post-rape care policy’.

Aresearch study by the SA Medical Research Council (SAMRC) shows that HIV-negative female rape survivors have a greater risk of acquiring HIV for years after the rape.

This is due to the long-term negative impact of rape on survivors’ mental health and well-being, driven by structural and societal factors that may lead to increasing rape survivors’ vulnerability to contracting HIV.

The findings are contained in the Rape Impact Cohort Evaluation (R ice) study conducted by the SAMRC’s Gender and Health Research Unit (GHRU).

According to the council, the R ice study is based on women aged between 16 and 40, who sought care for rape in the Durban metro region from 2014 to 2019.

“The women were interviewed and had their HIV status assessed at regular intervals, and were followed up alongside a comparison group of women, who reported that they had never been raped,” said SAMRC.

“In total, the study enrolled 1 019 HIV-negative women and found that among those who were raped, there was a 60% increased likelihood of contracting HIV, compared to women who had not been raped.”

GHRU director and lead researcher Professor Naeemah Abrahams said the results were important for understanding what healthcare and support should be provided to women after rape.

“Our services have always focused on giving post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infections from the rape incident, but this is the first time we have shown with research that much more intensive support for survivors after rape is needed,” she said.

Abrahams said the Rice is the first longitudinal cohort study globally to compare rape survivors and a control group of women to explore the relationship between rape and HIV over time.

Meanwhile, the SAMRC has led the way over three decades in deepening global understanding of the impact of gender-based violence on women’s HIV risk.

SAMRC’s executive scientist for research strategy Professor Rachel Jewkes believes the study will chart the way for the department of health to update its postrape care policy.

SAMRC president and CEO Professor Glenda Gray described the outcomes as advancing the evidence base for HIV prevention in SA. –