Rape Survivors' Sorrow: Major Depressive Symptoms and Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Adolescent Girls, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Purpose

Rape is one of the sexual violence acts against women globally. Adolescent girls are vulnerable to this event and experience more severe and long-standing adverse effects. Thus, this study aimed to examine major depressive symptoms and associated factors and the level of sexually transmitted infection among female adolescents evaluated for rape cases at Jimma Medical Center.

Patients and Methods

Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls assessed for rape cases in Jimma Medical Center. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and entered into Epi Data version 3.1 then exported to SPSS version 21.0 for analysis. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were carried out.

Results

A total of 174 raped adolescent females took part in the study. Of the total participants, 155 (89.1%) of these individuals had major depressive symptoms (95 CI %, 84.5–93.7%), while 85 (48.9%) of them had an STI (95% CI, 41.1–56.9%). From logistic regression, place of residence (AOR 14.65, 95%, (p=0.002)), attending school currently (AOR 9.01, 95%, p=0.004), raped by hitting (AOR 17.67, 95%, p<0.001) and unwanted pregnancy (AOR 14.68, 95%, p=0.001) were the variables associated with major depression.

Conclusion

This study indicates that adolescents were suffering from several encumbrances like major depressive symptoms, sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. It also indicated that place of residence, school attending, and unwanted pregnancy had an association with major depressive symptoms. Therefore, the need for a comprehensive approach while treating this vulnerable group is highly recommended.

Keywords:

• sexual assault
• rape victims
• sexual violence
• Jimma
• rape survivors

Abbreviations

AOR, adjusted odds ratio; COR, crude odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; GBV, gender-based violence; JUMC, Jimma University Medical Center; WHO, World Health Organization; VAW, violence against women; LMIC low- and middle-income country; STI, sexually transmitted infection.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

Ethical clearance was obtained from Jimma University Ethical Review Board and permission to conduct this research was obtained from JUMC. Adolescents' guardians, police staff and adolescents themselves were told about the objectives and benefits of the study. After having obtained written consent and assent from the respondents, the interview was carried out.

This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Jimma University for funding the study and also the study participants and data collectors.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.