Table 3

Physical, social and psychological consequences reported by survivors presenting to Panzi Hospital in 2006 according to type of sexual violence experienced.

Rape NOS

Gang Rape

Sexual Slavery

Combined Gang Rape and Sexual Slavery

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Physical:

Pelvic pain

53

24.2

139

23.0

3

6.0

25

21.0

Lumbar pain

24

11.0

72

11.9

0

0

16

13.4

Abdominal pain

22

10.0

41

6.8

1

2.0

6

5.0

Pregnancy

12

5.5

13

2.1

20

40.0

17

14.3

Malaise

10

4.6

44

7.3

1

2.0

6

5.0

Vaginal discharge

10

4.6

36

6.0

1

2.0

8

6.7

Vaginal itching

9

4.1

25

4.1

1

2.0

8

6.7

Abnormal menses

10

4.6

26

4.3

1

2.0

6

5.0

Generally unwell

5

2.3

24

4.0

0

0

5

4.2

Social:

Loss of possessions

55

25.1

147

24.3

10

20.0

19

16.0

Loss of child/spouse

13

5.9

75

12.4

2

4.0

21

17.6

Spousal abandonment

6

2.7

43

7.1

3

6.0

10

8.4

Loss of other family

2

0.91

15

2.5

0

0

9

7.6

Loss of home

1

0.46

9

1.5

0

0

1

0.84

Psychological:

Anxiety about rape

53

24.2

154

25.5

18

36

31

26.1

Anxiety about spousal abandonment

6

2.7

38

6.3

4

8

9

7.6

Concern about STIs

25

11.4

76

12.6

4

8

19

16.0

Concern about HIV

14

6.4

56

9.3

4

8

13

10.9

General health concerns

16

7.3

66

10.9

7

14

9

7.6

Grief about loss of spouse

9

4.1

40

6.6

1

2

10

8.4

Grief about loss of child/children

8

3.7

25

4.1

0

0

3

2.5

Women could report more than one consequence for each of the three categories. Due to the self-reporting format of the interview, these figures undoubtedly underestimate specific outcomes since failure to mention a specific symptom or outcome does not imply its absence.

Bartels et al. Conflict and Health 2010 4:9   doi:10.1186/1752-1505-4-9