Prevalence and associated factors of sexually transmitted infections among female survivors of sexual assault at the Nairobi womens hospital.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sexual assault cases have been increasing over the years. Currently about 270 survivors are treated monthly at the Nairobi Women’s hospital. At KNH 400 survivors were treated in 2011. Sexual assault increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections due to associated genital injuries and failure to use condoms. No studies have been done to determine the prevalence of STIs among the female sexual assault survivors in Kenya. OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence and correlates of sexually transmitted infections among sexual assault female survivors at The Nairobi women’s Hospital. STUDY DESIGN: cross sectional analytical study METHODS: Two forty six female sexual assault survivors attending the outpatient department in Nairobi Women’s Hospital were interviewed using a questionnaire. Samples of urine, endo cervical swab and blood were tested for trichomonas, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV and Hepatitis B. RESULTS Between the June 2012 and August 2012, 246 participants were enrolled; 63.4% of survivors presented within 72 hours, 32.5 % reported condom use while 33.3% of those found to have physical and genital injuries had STIs. Sexual assault offenders were mainly strangers (33.3%) or relatives 30.2%. The overall prevalence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections was 5.2%, trichomoniasis 3.2%, gonorrhea 2% and syphilis 1.6%. Among pregnant survivors 1.3% had bacterial STIs. Overall, 7.3% had HIV infection and 1.65 Hepatitis B. CONCLUSION The prevalence of bacterial STIs among the rape survivors at the Nairobi women’s hospital was 5.2%. Low use of condoms, genital injuries and late presentation to hospital may have increased the risk of STIs among survivors.