Abstract
BackgroundSexual violence is prevalent in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and has resulted in sexual violence-related pregnancies (SVRPs). Despite restrictive laws, women may seek to terminate SVRPs; however, there are limited data on termination of SVRPs.MethodsA mixed methods study was conducted in 2012 in Bukavu, DRC. Adult women who self-reported an SVRP and termination of that SVRP were recruited using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Trained female interviewers verbally administered a quantitative survey to all participants and a semi-structured qualitative survey to a subset. Quantitative data on characteristics and complications of pregnancy termination, including mental health outcomes, were analyzed using SAS.ResultsIn total, 86 women completed quantitative surveys. Most SVRPs (93 %) involved two or more assailants; 73 % occurred while in captivity. Most women (82 %) terminated the SVRPs at 3 months gestation or earlier; 79 % reported one attempt at pregnancy termination and 21 % more than one attempt. The most common methods of termination were an oral medicine (55 %) or herb (35 %); cimpokolo (31 %) and quinine (18 %) were most frequently reported. These methods were accessed through friends (37 %), healthcare providers (18 %), family (16 %), or self-obtained (12 %). Following the termination, 79 % of women reported subsequent physical symptoms, including abdominal pain (74 %), bleeding (47 %), vaginal discharge (35 %) and fever (18 %); 44 % sought medical care for their symptoms. Varied emotional responses to the termination were reported and included relief (34 %), anxiety (21 %), anger (19 %), guilt (19 %), and regret (10 %). At the time of the study, many women met symptom criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (57 %), depression (50 %), and generalized anxiety disorder (33 %).ConclusionMost women terminated SVRPs using medications or herbs not recognized as evidence-based methods of pregnancy termination and sought these methods outside of the formal healthcare sector. These data suggest that access to safe abortion methods is needed for women with SVRPs in DRC. Physical symptoms and emotional reactions related to the termination varied. While it is not possible to differentiate the impacts of sexual violence, SVRP, and pregnancy termination on mental health outcomes, the findings highlight the complex needs of women with SVRPs and opportunities for integrative health services.
Highlights
Sexual violence is prevalent in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and has resulted in sexual violence-related pregnancies (SVRPs)
Sexual violence has been prevalent throughout two decades of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with an estimated 40 % of the female population reporting lifetime experiences of sexual assault [1]
To address evidence gaps around the termination of SVRPs in eastern DRC, this study aimed to: 1) understand what methods are used to terminate SVRPs in this context, 2) describe complications and consequences related to termination of SVRPs, and 3) assess mental health outcomes among women who terminated SVRPs
Summary
Sexual violence is prevalent in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and has resulted in sexual violence-related pregnancies (SVRPs). Women may seek to terminate SVRPs; there are limited data on termination of SVRPs. Sexual violence has been prevalent throughout two decades of conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with an estimated 40 % of the female population reporting lifetime experiences of sexual assault [1]. In eastern DRC, up to 17 % of sexual violence survivors report SVRPs [1, 12, 13]; there are limited data about how many SVRPs are terminated, what methods of termination are used, or about the medical, psychosocial, or legal outcomes of pregnancy terminations in this context. Further evidence is needed in order to provide comprehensive care and support to sexual violence survivors
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