National Women's Day, 9 August 2011
Women's Day on 9 August should be a time to celebrate and reflect upon the progress women have made on the road to their empowerment in South Africa. It certainly does not seem to be the appropriate time to discuss the subject of rape. The problem is that rape is extremely common in South Africa and, according to some authorities, it is on the rise not only here but around the world.
It is estimated that around 500 000 rapes are committed in SA every year - one of the worst rates of rape in the world. Out of 4 000 women questioned by the Community of Information, Empowerment and Transparency last year, one in three said they had been raped. In a recent survey undertaken by the Medical Research Council (MRC) in Gauteng more than one in three men also admitted they had committed rape.
Looking at such shocking rape statistics we have to ask ourselves just how much progress has been made in empowering women in SA. One thing is clear and that is that the problem of rape, a terrible act of violence against women and also children, needs urgent addressing in our communities.
As part of the Government Employees Medical Scheme's (GEMS) ongoing effort to educate our members and future members on a range of healthcare topics, we would like to share real life member stories with you and explore certain important healthcare issues. This article looks at the subject of rape this Women's Day.
Lindiwe Moyo* is a 35-year-old administrator working with the Department of Human Settlements in Gauteng province. She was raped three years ago and describes the experience as the "most horrific of my life". For a long time she struggled to get the rape out of her mind and to feel safe wherever she went.
Lindiwe's response is not surprising and many women feel that way after having been raped. This is because rape is a cruel act of violence that causes the victim severe injury. It attempts to make women powerless through the use of physical force. Women can have a number of different ways of dealing with the shock of rape, but they will be traumatised and it is likely to have an important impact on their lives. Even those victims who believe they have recovered months and even years later can still suffer from the shock of having been raped.
Lindiwe says that she felt an overwhelming sense of having done something wrong herself after the rape, like there was something she could have done to prevent it. Such self-blaming is also typical after a rape and victims should try to keep in mind that they are the ones who were the victim of a violent crime.
What exactly should a woman do after having experienced a rape? The hours following a rape are important and what the victim does can affect her recovery from this traumatic event and the successful prosecution of the rapist. A rape survivor should first go to the police station closest to the area where the incident occurred or go to a District Surgeon if one is easily available. A police officer will escort her to the nearest hospital equipped to deal with sexual assault.
As a rape survivor you are likely to want nothing more than to have a wash. However this will wash important evidence away and make a conviction less likely if you decide to pursue a case against the perpetrator. If possible you should not wash, bath or shower until evidence has been taken. Do not change your clothing, eat or drink anything and avoid using the toilet if possible. If it is necessary to change your clothes take the clothing that you were wearing at the time of the incident along to the police station and rape crisis centre.
A female officer would usually be assigned to the case, but this is not always possible. On arrival at the hospital, a nurse will attend to you. A doctor or a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner will then do the medical examination in order to collect the evidence. Once this has been completed you may wish to see a private doctor to ensure that you receive all the necessary post-rape treatment.
One of the most important things for a rape survivor to do is to find support. It is essential that she feel as safe and empowered as soon as possible during this time as she is likely to feel extremely vulnerable. That first contact with another person is vital and a victim usually does best when they are able to call someone who is strong and empathetic. She could call her mother or a sister or a close friend. Be sure, however, that it is someone who can provide unconditional support without being judgemental in any way.
The survivor should receive trauma counselling at the hospital with a trained nurse, psychologist or trauma counsellor. This is a once-off session and is very important. Based on the health professional's assessment during the counselling session, the victim will usually be referred to a psychologist for further counselling or advised to join a support group. She can also call an organisation that offers support such as People Opposed to Women Abuse (POWA), which can be reached on the telephone number 011 642 4345. Stop Women Abuse offers a toll free helpline: 0800 150 150.
Lindiwe says she would never have got through her experience without the help of an experienced rape counsellor who she could speak to and the support of family and friends. She notes that she found the period after her rape as a scary, distrustful time. The support she was given helped her to feel safer and more secure over this difficult period. It also helped her to come to terms with what had happened to her.
It is possible for a rape victim to have been infected with HIV. For this reason the survivor will be offered anti-retroviral therapy if they were not already infected by the virus prior to the rape. This therapy aims to prevent the individual from contracting the virus from the rapist. Anti-retroviral therapy administered for the purposes of preventing infection is called prophylaxis therapy and it is taken for a period of 28 days.
On arrival at the hospital the survivor is given emergency contraception to prevent her becoming pregnant, if appropriate. This will only be administered once it has been established that the victim is not currently pregnant. If, even after this precaution has been taken, the victim falls pregnant due to the incident, a healthcare professional dealing with her case will advise her on what her options are.
The months following a rape are very difficult for most survivors and how well they cope depends on a range of factors including whether they receive the love and support of their friends and families. Friends and families should be sensitive to the way a rape survivor behaves and should understand that she has been through a massive ordeal. Let her speak about her experience if she wants to but don't make her talk if she doesn't want to.
A rape survivor needs to know that it wasn't her fault and that the important people in her life such as her husband, parents and siblings understand what she has gone through and don't blame her. Faith in and support of her are important to her ultimate recovery.
Lindiwe says the rape she survived some years ago has changed her life forever and she will never forget the frightening experience she had to endure. While this is so, she has managed to reach a stage now in which she can function in her daily life and be happy once again. She says she is determined not to let the rape ruin her life as this will mean that the rapist succeeded in his aim of disempowering and terrorising her. "As I see it, no one should have control over my life but me," she observes.
Checklist after a rape:
If you would like to know how GEMS can assist you to obtain more information about any of your healthcare needs, you can contact the GEMS call centre on 0860 00 4367 or send a SMS to 083 450 4367. GEMS will assist you in every way possible to ensure your family's health and well-being.
Sources:
1. ‘Rape Statistics South Africa and Worldwide 2010', http://www.rape.co.za/index2.php?do_pdf=1&id=875&option=com_content.
2. ‘Rape Trauma Syndrome', http://www.socialpc.com/Psychology/Rape-Trauma-Syndrome.html.
3. ‘South Africa: Shocking Rape Statistics', Africa Peacelink, www.africa.peacelink.org/tools/print.php?id=12144.
*The member's name has been changed in order to protect her identity.
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