| 1. |
- Andersson, Gunnel, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
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Health Workers’ Assessment of the Frequency of and Caring for Urinary and Fecal Incontinence among Female Victims of Sexual Violence in the Eastern Congo : An Exploratory Study
- 2015
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Ingår i: Open Journal of Nursing. - Irvine, USA : Scientific Research Publishing. - 2162-5336 .- 2162-5344. ; 5, s. 354-360
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Throughout the long war that the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has endured,women and children have been depicted as the primary victims of widespread sexual violence. Insome settings women have been raped in entire villages, with devastating physical and psychologicalconsequences, which include sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, trauma and fistulas,as well as social isolation and involuntary pregnancies. The aim of this study was to assess theprevalent perceptions of health professionals on the magnitude of urine and/or fecal incontinenceamong assaulted women, caused by sexual violence, as well as the opinions regarding the type ofcare provided to affected women.Methods: The study was part of a larger pilot study that had across-sectional design and a descriptive approach, which explored health professionals’ views regarding their own levels of competence at responding to the health needs of victims of sexual violence, in the form of a semi-structured questionnaire.Results: 104 health workers responded to the questionnaire. Nurses reported seeing raped women more frequently on a day-to-day basis (69.2%), in comparison to medical doctors and social workers (11.5%). Urinary incontinence was common according to 79% of health workers, who estimated that up to 15% of the women affected experienced huge amounts of urine leakage. Only 30% of the care seekers underwent in depth investigations, but the majority of the victims were not offered any further examination or appropriate treatments.Conclusion: Urinary and fecal incontinence due to urogenital or colorectalfistulas among women exposed to sexual violence is a common in the specified setting, but lack of systematic investigation and appropriate treatment means that the quality of life of the victims may be negatively affected. An improvement in the ability of health workers to manage these complex diagnoses is urgently needed, as well as adequately equipping health services in the affected settings.
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| 2. |
- Kaboru, Berthollet Bwira, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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Geographical, health systems’ and sociocultural patterns of tb/hiv co-infected patients’ health seeking behavior in a conflict affected setting : the case of Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Community Medicine and Health Education. - : OMICS Publishing Group. - 2161-0711. ; 4:1, s. 1-6
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of the high burden TB countries. The country has been affected by a political conflict for more than 15 years now. HIV prevalence has been increasing in the country too. Detection and care of TB/HIV co-infected cases is a major problem in the country. Aim: This study aimed at describing patterns of health seeking behaviors among patients with TB/HIV regarding their choice of health facilities for integrated TB/HIV care in the Goma and surrounding health districts.Methods: The methods used included a cross-sectional descriptive survey with TB/HIV co-infected patients and qualitative interviews of health workers.Results: The study found that geographical residence did not play a major role in choice of facility for care by patients infected with TB and HIV. Many patients shun facilities which are close and seek care relatively far away. Instead of geographical proximity, availability of drugs and welcoming attitudes determined the choice of integrated care facilities. Also, fear for discrimination and stigmatization in the community result into patients in this area concealing their infection; rather, they claim being victim of empoisoning.Conclusion: Sustained decentralization of integrated TB/HIV services through better programs’ coordination and community involvement to address misconceptions about TB and HIV and stigmatization are essential to promote uptake of TB/HIV services and retain patients in treatment.
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| 3. |
- Kaboru, Berthollet Bwira, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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Knowledge and attitudes towards sexual violence in conflict-affected rural communities in the Walikale District, DR Congo : implications for rural health services
- 2014
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Ingår i: Annals of Public Health and Research. - : JSciMed Central. - 2378-9328. ; 1:2, s. 1009-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sexual violence has become endemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but the perspectives of rural communities of the scourge remain poorly researched. This study aims to describe the attitudes and knowledge of rural communities in regard to sexual violence, its occurrence and associated problems in rural communities in the Itebero/Walikale district in the DRC. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and a structured questionnaire used. Four hundred respondents participated, representing a group of ten villages populated by a total of 10,000 inhabitants. The respondents stated that perpetrators were often men from their own village. The fields were cited as being the place where most of the assaults occurred. A substantial proportion of the respondents lacked sufficient knowledge of the health outcomes of sexual violence. HIV infection and unwanted pregnancies were the most feared consequences. The victims of violence either experienced compassion or suffered rejection, depending on the community groups. Victims were mostly supported by women from their community, followed by husbands, relatives and authorities. Health facilities were the primary sources of support for victims. Rural health facilities need to revolutionise their health education strategies to improve the current situation.
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| 4. |
- Kaboru, Berthollet Bwira, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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“Qualified but not competent enough” : Healthworkers’ assessment of their competence in relation to caring for sexually abused women in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. - Toronto, Canada : Sciedu Press. - 1925-4040 .- 1925-4059. ; 5:8, s. 26-32
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to assess health professionals’ opinions of their competence levels in responding to health needs of victims of sexual violence. This study used a cross-sectional design with a descriptive approach. A total of 104 physicians, nurses and social workers participated in the study. The data was collected using a questionnaire consisting of open and close-ended questions. Overall, 75% of the respondents were university graduates, but only a quarter of them felt they have adequate competence to care for these women; 36% had difficulties with general health assessment of assaulted women. The results indicated that nurses are critical professionals in caring for victims of sexual violence, that they see these women more than any other professional category. However, they are more likely than other categories to report being incompetent. Access to continued education was difficult, and more so for clinically-oriented health professionals than for others social professionals. Human resources capacity strengthening and particularly that of nurses will be the key investment in addressing assaulted women’s health needs in this region. Clinical researchers are called to identify rapid methods to reinforce nurses’ capacity and role in such a context with deprived health systems.
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| 5. |
- Kaboru, Berthollet Bwira, 1971-, et al.
(författare)
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TB/HIV co-infection care in conflict-affected settings : a mapping of health facilities in the Goma area, Democratic Republic of Congo
- 2013
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Ingår i: International Journal of Health Policy and Management. - : Maad Rayan Publishing Company. - 2322-5939. ; 1:3, s. 207-211
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB) are major contributors to the burden of disease in sub-Saharan Africa. The two diseases have been described as a harmful synergy as they are biologically and epidemiologically linked. Control of TB/HIV co-infection is an integral and most challenging part of both national TB and national HIV control programmes, especially in contexts of instability where health systems are suffering from political and social strife. This study aimed at assessing the provision of HIV/TB co-infection services in health facilities in the conflict-ridden region of Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods A cross-sectional survey of health facilities that provide either HIV or TB services or both was carried out. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data which was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results Eighty facilities were identified, of which 64 facilities were publicly owned. TB care was more available than HIV care (in 61% vs. 9% of facilities). Twenty-three facilities (29%) offered services to co-infected patients. TB/HIV co-infection rates among patients were unknown in 82% of the facilities. Only 19 facilities (24%) reported some coordination with and support from concerned diseases’ control programmes. HIV and TB services are largely fragmented, indicating imbalances and poor coordination by disease control programmes. Conclusion HIV and TB control appear not to be the focus of health interventions in this crisis affected region, despite the high risks of TB and HIV infection in the setting. Comprehensive public health response to this setting calls for reforms that promote joint TB/HIV co-infection control, including improved leadership by the HIV programmes that accuse weaknesses in this conflict-ridden region.
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