IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v4y2020i11p361-371.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Mental Health Impact of Sexual Violence: Attending To the Unmet Needs of Rape Survivors in Bayelsa State

Author

Listed:
  • Endurance Avah Zacchaeus

    (Bayelsa State Ministry of Health, Yenagoa, Nigeria)

  • Lawrence Ayah Iruo,

    (Department of Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing,Faculty of Nursing Sciences,Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island,Bayelsa State, Nigeria)

Abstract

Current statistics show an alarming rise in the incidence of sexual violence and rape in Nigeria. This, potentially, constitutes a major mental health challenge. Apart from physical health impacts, research has consistently shown a strong nexus between sexual violence and poor mental health including suicide among survivors. Nevertheless, in Nigeria, the response of individuals, government agencies and organisations to cases of sexual violence and rape has predominantly been medico-legal, while ignoring the psycho-social and mental health aftermaths. Therefore, rape survivors are left with unmet short-term, intermediate and long-term mental health care needs. This paper reviews sexual violence, rape in particular being the most prevalent form of sexual violence in our communities with a view to enhancing understanding of the problem among the public and drawing attention of concerned authorities and critical stake-holders. It specifically addresses relevant concepts of sexual violence including definition, prevalence, factors that may influence its occurrence as well as common mental health consequences and psychological interventions for survivors. The paper concludes with key recommendations aimed at addressing rape survivors’ psychological support and mental healthcare needs as well as preventive strategies aimed at checking the menace in Bayelsa State, and Nigeria in general.

Suggested Citation

  • Endurance Avah Zacchaeus & Lawrence Ayah Iruo,, 2020. "The Mental Health Impact of Sexual Violence: Attending To the Unmet Needs of Rape Survivors in Bayelsa State," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 4(11), pages 361-371, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:4:y:2020:i:11:p:361-371
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-4-issue-11/361-371.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/virtual-library/papers/the-mental-health-impact-of-sexual-violence-attending-to-the-unmet-needs-of-rape-survivors-in-bayelsa-state/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jewkes, Rachel & Vundule, Caesar & Maforah, Fidelia & Jordaan, Esmé, 2001. "Relationship dynamics and teenage pregnancy in South Africa," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 733-744, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kakal, T., 2015. "A tale of two sisters : Investigating the socio-economic outcomes of teen childbearing in South Africa," ISS Working Papers - General Series 604, International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), The Hague.
    2. Branson, Nicola & Byker, Tanya, 2018. "Causes and consequences of teen childbearing: Evidence from a reproductive health intervention in South Africa," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 221-235.
    3. Stadler, Jonathan & Hlongwa, Lindiwe, 2002. "Monitoring and evaluation of loveLife's AIDS prevention and advocacy activities in South Africa, 1999-2001," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 25(4), pages 365-376, November.
    4. Jean Digitale & Stephanie Psaki & Erica Soler-Hampejsek & Barbara S. Mensch, 2017. "Correlates of Contraceptive Use and Health Facility Choice among Young Women in Malawi," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 669(1), pages 93-124, January.
    5. Leigh Johnson & Rob Dorrington & Debbie Bradshaw & Victoria Pillay-Van Wyk & Thomas Rehle, 2009. "Sexual behaviour patterns in South Africa and their association with the spread of HIV: insights from a mathematical model," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 21(11), pages 289-340.
    6. Witness Maluleke & Sekwaila Naum Mamabolo, 2022. "Exploring perceptions of community members on effects of rape in the selected areas of Mankweng, South Africa," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 11(2), pages 280-288, March.
    7. Leach, Fiona, 2006. "Researching gender violence in schools: Methodological and ethical considerations," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(6), pages 1129-1147, June.
    8. Chimaraoke Otutubikey Izugbara & Emmanuel J.C. Duru & Peter O. Dania, 2008. "Women and Male Partner-dating Violence in Nigeria," Indian Journal of Gender Studies, Centre for Women's Development Studies, vol. 15(3), pages 461-484, December.
    9. Matzopoulos, Richard & Bowman, Brett & Mathews, Shanaaz & Myers, Jonny, 2010. "Applying upstream interventions for interpersonal violence prevention: An uphill struggle in low- to middle-income contexts," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 62-70, September.
    10. Dunkle, Kristin L. & Jewkes, Rachel & Nduna, Mzikazi & Jama, Nwabisa & Levin, Jonathan & Sikweyiya, Yandisa & Koss, Mary P., 2007. "Transactional sex with casual and main partners among young South African men in the rural Eastern Cape: Prevalence, predictors, and associations with gender-based violence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(6), pages 1235-1248, September.
    11. Handa, Sudhanshu & Peterman, Amber & Huang, Carolyn & Halpern, Carolyn & Pettifor, Audrey & Thirumurthy, Harsha, 2015. "Impact of the Kenya Cash Transfer for Orphans and Vulnerable Children on early pregnancy and marriage of adolescent girls," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 36-45.
    12. Adeagbo Morolake Josephine, 2019. "“Motherhood Is Hard†: Exploring the Complexities of Unplanned Motherhood Among HIV-Positive Adolescents in South Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(2), pages 21582440198, May.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:4:y:2020:i:11:p:361-371. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.