Clinical Care of Victims of Interpersonal Violence and Rape in Tanzania: A Qualitative Investigation

Figures & data

Figure 1 Distribution of focus groups among students and health professionals.

Table 1 Demographic Characteristics of Health Care Students and Providers Stratified by Experience and Profession, Tanzania (N=121)

	Midwifery	Nursing	Medicine	Total
Sample Size
Students	20	19	22	61
Providers	21	21	18	60
Total	41	40	40	121
Gender
Students	14M; 6F	13M; 6F	11M; 11F	38M; 23F
Providers	0M; 21F	5M; 16F	6M; 12F	11M; 49F
Total	14M; 27F	18M; 22F	17M; 23F	49M; 72F
Age (in years)
Students: Mean	27.7	25.1	24.0	25.5
Range	23–37	23–27	22–28	23–37
Providers: Mean	44.5	41.1	43.5	43.1
Range	26–58	24–59	31–62	24–62
Experience (in years)
Students	4	4	4	4
Providers: Mean	18.0	13.1	11.9	14.6
Range	4–38	2–30	4–25	2–38

Table 2 Biopsychosocial Management and Challenges Faced When Caring for an IPV Victim

Themes	Categories	Subcategories	Selected Codes
● Biopsychosocial management and challenges faced when caring for an IPV victim	● Comprehensive care for IPV victim	● Preliminary steps while helping an IPV victim	● Report to police ● Provider and victim’s gender resemblance ● Medical stabilization ● Obtain consent
		● Medical care provision	● History taking ● Investigation ● Treatment ● Documentation
		● Referral to other experts	● Mental health care ● Social welfare and family support ● Spiritual support ● Local government support ● Follow up on GBV department
	● Practical setbacks	● Difficulties when handling an IPV victim	● IPV is a rare reported case ● No policy for mandated reporting ● Victim’s safety after treatment ● Unfamiliarity with providers’ obligations

Table 3 Management Approach and Challenges of a Rape Victim Brought by Police

Theme	Categories	Subcategories	Codes
● Management approach and challenges of rape victim brought by police	● Clinical care of a rape victim	● Initial response towards victim	● Medical stabilization ● Enquiry for PF3 form ● Reassurance and maintaining privacy ● Gender resemblance
		● Medical care	● History taking ● Physical examination ● Investigations ● Provision of emergency medications ● Treatment ● Proper documentation
		● Referral and follow-up	● Psychologist and social worker ● Follow-up with the police ● Ensure safety of the victim
	● Practical barriers	● Lack of knowledge and resources	● Forensic sample collection and storage ● Unavailable rape kits ● Unawareness of procedures
		● Dilemma during service	● Provider’s moral values ● Victim’s indecisiveness