Globally, more than 1 in 3 women have experienced physical
or sexual violence (SV) from intimate partners or SV from non-partners [1]. Furthermore,
over 10% of all girls are estimated to have experienced a forced sexual act,
with the highest rates of SV against girls found in sub-Saharan Africa [2].
Although public recognition of SV is growing
in Zambia, reliable data on the nature and extent of such violence is limited.
Approximately 20% of Zambian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced some form of
sexual violence; however, this is likely underestimated due to underreporting [3]. Previous
research in Zambia suggests that exposure to SV is equally pervasive among
adolescent girls [4,5].
The risks associated with SV, especially
among young women, are numerous. Immediate health consequences include unwanted
pregnancy, physical trauma, mental distress and acquisition of HIV and other
sexually-transmitted infections. The linkage between sexual and gender-based
violence (SGBV) and risk of HIV has been well documented in Africa and is
especially pronounced in countries with high HIV prevalence, such as Zambia [3,6-8].
Growing awareness of these negative consequences
of SGBV led the Government of Zambia to develop a set of national guidelines
for the management of SGBV, highlighting the need for a response system linking
the health, police, and social services sectors. A critical component of this
response is the prevention of HIV infection in SV survivors through the
provision of preventive anti-retroviral therapy, or HIV post-exposure
prophylaxis (PEP). The initial dose of PEP must be taken within 72 hours of
exposure to HIV [9].
Given the time sensitivity of PEP and the
fact that police and health services are often the first points of contact for
SV survivors, strong coordination between these two sectors is central to the
effective medical management of SV cases in Zambia [10]. Building on the
results of previous research in Zambia, which demonstrated that trained Victim
Support Unit (VSU) police officers could effectively administer the emergency
contraception pill to SV survivors, the Population Council, Zambia Police
Service, and Ministry of Health aimed to assess the feasibility of having
trained VSU police officers safely and effectively provide a PEP starter dose to
SV survivors with immediate referral to comprehensive medical services [10].
Below: Police delivery of PEP (November 2012 - October 2013)
Full article at: http://goo.gl/MxNSrU
1Population Council, Private Bag 319X,
Ridgeway, Lusaka, Zambia
2Centre for Infectious Disease Research in
Zambia, PO Box 34681, Lusaka, Zambia
3Nossal Institute for Global Health,
University of Melbourne, Level 4, 161 Barry Street, Alan Gilbert Building,
Carlton 3010, VIC, Australia
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