The Experiences of female rape survivors seen at Bopanang Centre, Northern Cape

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this research was to explore the experiences of female rape survivors seen at Bopanang Centre in Upington, Northern Cape Province. The objectives of the study were: 1 To describe the experiences of female rape survivors who received health care at Bopanang Centre Upington, Northern Cape. 2 To enable caregivers understand the experiences of women who survived rape. Design: The design was a descriptive exploratory qualitative study using in depth interviews on females who survived rape. The interviews were conducted in both English and Afrikaans and recorded on audio tapes while field notes and a research diary were documented by the researcher. Setting: The setting was Bopanang Centre in Upington town in the Northern Cape. Study population: The study population was all female rape survivors seen at Bopanang Centre, Upington in the Northern Cape Province. The sample size of women interviewed was 10 participants. Results: Most female rape survivors recall exceptionally well the events leading to the rape. All the survivors experienced various post rape distressful feelings ranging from anger, bitterness, humiliation, sadness, and confusion, self-blame and guilt, lack of trust and fear of men to the most extreme feelings such as crushed dignity and dead inside even considering committing suicide. Variable and inconsistent care of services had been offered to them, without fully considering their specific needs and experiences of females who had survived rape. Victimization and stigma were barriers for disclosure and reporting of the rape. Excessive alcohol use and abuse of sleeping pills had been reported by some of the survivors as a means to alleviate the post rape distress. From the study disclosure was the most important factor in determining how one was able to cope with distress following the rape. All those survivors who had good family support could cope reasonably well to deal with post rape distress. Conclusion: The study concludes that the experiences of female rape survivors seenat Bopanang Centre in Upington Northern Cape have not been adequately addressed by health care providers and stakeholders, health care and post rape services offered to them. Female rape survivors having a good family support cope reasonably well despite the distressful post rape feelings experiences they experience on a daily basis.