Rape in Eastern Congo-Stories from Survivors

Background: Globally one in three women experience some form of sexual gender-based violence within their lifetime.  In conflict-affected countries, women carry the added burden of becoming targets of sexual violence as a tactic of war.  Though sexual gender-based violence in conflict-affected countries has been a media topic, there is limited research on the subject. 

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the experience of women who have survived sexual gender-based violence in conflict-affected countries in an effort to raise awareness to those in the nursing profession about these experiences. 

Methods:  Narrative research will be used as a tool to collect data from women who have survived sexual gender-based violence in conflict, giving voice to their story and experience. 

Results:  Results are pending.  The research interviews will permit the participants to tell the story of their experience of SGBV during conflict, and to have that story augment the body of knowledge concerning this topic.  This research may be a catalyst for additional studies to understand and bring attention to this issue.

Conclusions:   Knowledge and understanding of global health issues must continue to be incorporated into nursing science, education, and practice.  The potential outcomes of this study will be the expansion of nursing knowledge on the subject of SGBV in CACs for use in nursing practice, science, and education.  In addition, the results of this study may lead to greater sensitization of nurses and other healthcare professionals regarding the issues surrounding the experiences of this population.