scholarly journals Delivering integrated care after sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e001120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Bress ◽  
Givano Kashemwa ◽  
Christine Amisi ◽  
Jean Armas ◽  
Cindy McWhorter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Inventory Management ◽  
Emergency Contraception ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Inventory Management System ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Gender Based

In the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, ongoing armed conflict increases the incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) and presents a distinct and major barrier to care delivery for all survivors of GBV. A specific challenge is providing emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections to all survivors within 72 hours of violence. To address the multiple barriers to providing this time-sensitive medical care, Global Strategies and Panzi Hospital implemented the Prevention Pack Program. The Prevention Pack is a pre-packaged post-rape medical kit containing antiretroviral post-exposure prophylaxis, antibiotics for treatment of sexually transmitted infections and emergency contraception. The Prevention Pack Program combines community sensitisation about post-rape medical care with the provision of Prevention Packs and the implementation of a cloud-based and Global Positioning System (GPS)–enabled inventory management system. The Panzi Hospital gender-based violence team implemented the Prevention Pack Program at Panzi Hospital and 12 rural clinics in the South Kivu Province. The data manager took GPS coordinates of each site, provided an initial stock of Prevention Packs and then called all sites daily to determine demand for post-rape care and Prevention Pack consumption. Inventory data were entered into the GPS-enabled cloud-based inventory management system. Project personnel used the consumption rate, trends and geolocation of sites to guide Prevention Pack restocking strategy. Between 2013 and 2017, a total of 8206 individuals presented for care following rape at the study sites. Of the 1414 individuals who presented in the rural areas, 1211 (85.6%) did so within the first 72 hours of reported rape. Care was delivered continuously and without a single stockout of medication across all sites. The Prevention Pack Program provided timely and consistent access to emergency contraception, HIV prophylaxis and treatment for sexually transmitted infections for rape survivors in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

scholarly journals Low prevalence of HIV and other selected sexually transmitted infections in 2004 in pregnant women from Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2007 ◽  
Vol 136 (9) ◽  
pp. 1290-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. KINOSHITA-MOLEKA ◽  
J. S. SMITH ◽  
J. ATIBU ◽  
A. TSHEFU ◽  
J. HEMINGWAY-FODAY ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Male Partner ◽  
Treponema Pallidum ◽  
Syphilis Infection ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Low Prevalence

SUMMARYThis study examined the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in pregnant women in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Between April and July 2004, antenatal attendees at two of the largest maternity clinics in Kinshasa were tested to identify HIV status, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). HIV seroprevalence was 1·9% in 2082 women. With PCR techniques, CT and NG infections were also uncommon in the first 529 women (1·7% and 0·4%, respectively). No active syphilis infection case was identified by Treponema pallidum haemagglutination assay (TPHA) and rapid plasma reagin test (RPR). A woman's risk of HIV infection was significantly associated with her reporting a male partner having had other female sexual partners (OR 2·7, 95% CI 1·2–6·2). The continuing low seroprevalence of HIV in pregnant women from Kinshasa was confirmed. Understanding factors associated with this phenomenon could help prevent a future HIV epidemic in low HIV transmission areas in Africa.

scholarly journals Human Rights Protection in UN Peace Operations: A Case Study of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

2021 ◽  
pp. 2150003
Author(s):  
Masrur Mahmud Khan ◽  
Samwat Naiear Ahona ◽  
Subiggo Chakma
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Crimes Against Humanity ◽  
Peace Operations ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Human Rights Protection ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender

Despite the presence of UN peace operations for more than two decades, the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is still dire. This article illustrates the types of violations of human rights and hindrances to protect human rights in MONUSCO. Methodologically being a qualitative study, it is based on existing literature and key informant interviews. Killings of civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, child soldiers, war crimes and crimes against humanity are major types of human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study argues that due to structural challenges, like the bureaucratic structure of MONUSCO, inadequacy of budget and juristic limitation of the Peacekeeping Force, and operational challenges, like challenges in the protection of civilians and UN personnel, the paucity of logistics and manpower and also gender-based violence by some UN personnel and peacekeepers in MONUSCO, the UN forces failed to maintain and defend human rights properly.

scholarly journals Use of Protection for Unwanted Pregnancy and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Six Birth Cohorts in Norway 2020: A Descriptive Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bente Træen ◽  
Nantje Fischer
Keyword(s):  
General Population ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Emergency Contraception ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Hormonal Contraception ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Panel Survey ◽  
Birth Cohorts ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

AbstractThis study describes the use of contraception and protection for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in six different birth cohorts of the general population in Norway. The results are based on a 2020 national web panel survey among 18–89 year-olds in Norway (n = 4160). For respondents born within 1931–1950 versus those born within 1990–2002, there was a significant increase in the use of protection against unwanted pregnancy and STIs during sexual intercourse, and a significant drop in the proportion of those who did not use any protection at all. More women today (than in previous decades) are using hormonal contraception. The main reason for not using condoms during intercourse was both parties felt safe that they were healthy, especially those born within 1990–2002. To prevent unwanted pregnancy and STIs, it is beneficial to continue to increase the availability of free or subsidized hormonal contraception, including emergency contraception, and free condoms in public arenas that people frequent and where they meet their partners.

scholarly journals Strategy to improve adolescent knowledge on sex education: scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 54-65
Author(s):  
Yustika rahmawati Rahmawati Pratami
Keyword(s):  
Sex Education ◽  
Sexuality Education ◽  
Unwanted Pregnancy ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Adolescent Sexual Behavior ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Role Of Parents ◽  
Gender Based

Background : Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) plays an important role in preparing adolescents for safe, productive lives, and understanding about HIV and AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancy, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Gender inequality still pose serious risks to their well-being. Study Aim : Determine the method most instrumental in improving adolescents' knowledge about adolescent sex education and teens identify constraints in obtaining information on sex education. Methods : Stage approach to review the literature using framework Arskey and O'Malley. The framework used to manage with PEOS research questions so that the search strategy uses 5 databases, viz. Pubmed, Science Direct, Wiley, Proquest, And Ebsco with the identification of the relevant study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Each method has its contribution in providing information and knowledge about sex education to adolescents, however the source of the greatest role in providing sex education information mostly came from digital sources both internet and TV media. The lack of role of parents and teachers to provide enough information about sex education is reflected in the results and the above discussion. Problems in adolescent sexual behavior that negatively due to inaccurate sources such as peer and the internet and added with minimal information from parents and teachers in which teenagers hoping to get information about sex education from parents and teachers.

scholarly journals Commentary: Women’s Empowerment and Addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the DRC

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Eileen Alma
Keyword(s):  
United Nations ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
National Elections ◽  
Republic Of The Congo ◽  
State Actors ◽  
The United Nations ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
National Police

In the last two years, ethnically motivated sexual and gender-based violence rose in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country marked with ethnic-based tensions and conflict over the control of its extractive industries over decades. According to the 2018 Report of the United Nations Secretary General to the United Nations, sexualized violence cases emerged and spread in several provinces in 2017 with at least 804 cases of conflict-related sexual violence in this period, affecting 507 women, 265 girls, 30 men and 2 boys. Despite progress by the international community actors to end these abhorrent practices, this marks a significant increase from the previous year and the delay in national elections has exacerbated conflict. Both non-state actors and state actors are identified perpetrators of sexual violence, including the Congolese National Police.

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