| Learning Objective #1: The learner will be able to appreciate the process of recovery from sexual assault as described by the women who participated in the study. | |||
| Learning Objective #2: The learner will be able to identify factors influencing recovery from sexual assault as described by the sexual assault survivors who participated in the study. |
Rape is a serious public health problem in South Africa and worldwide because of its immediate short-term and long term health consequences for the raped woman, her family and community. The magnitude of sexual assault in this country is difficult to ascertain and quantify because of inadequate research on the subject.
The prospect of recovery from the trauma of sexual assault is a problematic reality that confronts the survivors of sexual assault, their families and the larger community of service providers. Currently, there is conflicting evidence regarding the occurrence of recovery following sexual assault, when it occurs, the length of the process of recovery as well as factors that enhance or hinder recovery.
The purpose of the study was the development of the grounded theory of recovery from sexual assault by utilising the grounded theory data collection and data analysis techniques including subsequent interviews and field notes from the first week, fourth week, twelfth week and the 24th week following the incident of rape. About 10 women participated in the study from November 2004 to October 2005.
This oral presentation summarises the findings of the grounded theory study of women’s recovery from sexual assault within the first 6 months following the incident of rape. This includes women’s descriptions of the complex processes which they experience and define as recovery or “recovering” or as they try to overcome the traumatic experiences which are associated with having been raped the factors that enhance recovery and the factors that hinder recovery within the first six months following the incident of rape. The presentation will also highlight the South African cultural and demographic challenges facing the sexual assault victims and survivors. The emerging themes for the development of the grounded theory of recovery from sexual assault will be discussed together with future implications.
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See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)