Community perceptions about factors influencing access to care after sexual violence in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a qualitative study
Reinholdz, Hanna LU
; Palmieri, Jack
LU
; Frielingsdorf Lundqvist, Helena
; Kalere, Esther Katungu
; Heritier, Gérard Nteziryayo
; Verputten, Meggy
and Agardh, Anette
LU
(2025)
In Conflict and Health
19.
p.1-17
- Abstract
- Background
Sexual violence is widespread in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including in the North Kivu province. Moreover, in this region survivors of sexual violence often have limited access to care and encounter a variety of barriers when seeking care and support. The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about access to care, barriers, enablers and possible actions to improve access to care for survivors of sexual violence in North Kivu. A deeper understanding of community perceptions about access to care can guide ongoing efforts to overcome barriers and increase access to care for survivors of sexual violence.
Methods
The study utilised a qualitative design, based on focus... (More) - Background
Sexual violence is widespread in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including in the North Kivu province. Moreover, in this region survivors of sexual violence often have limited access to care and encounter a variety of barriers when seeking care and support. The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about access to care, barriers, enablers and possible actions to improve access to care for survivors of sexual violence in North Kivu. A deeper understanding of community perceptions about access to care can guide ongoing efforts to overcome barriers and increase access to care for survivors of sexual violence.
Methods
The study utilised a qualitative design, based on focus group discussions with male and female adult community members in the study area. Previous experience of sexual violence was not a requirement. The transcripts from the discussions were analysed using manifest and latent qualitative content analysis.
Results
A total of 18 focus group discussions were carried out. The analysis resulted in three main themes; Knowledge and misconceptions around medical consequences crucial for care seeking, Community and family attitudes playing a dual role in care seeking behaviours and Care seeking dependent on optimised healthcare facilities and sensitive staff.
Conclusions
Lack of correct knowledge, harmful attitudes from community and healthcare staff, and poorly adapted healthcare services constitute barriers to accessing care. Improved awareness raising around sexual violence is needed to address both lack of knowledge and misconceptions. Efforts should be made to build upon the community support models and actively work to improve community attitudes towards survivors of sexual violence. In addition, there is a need for better adapted healthcare services with improved proximity, access for different groups of survivors and respectful and well-trained healthcare staff. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Background
Sexual violence is widespread in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including in the North Kivu province. Moreover, in this region survivors of sexual violence often have limited access to care and encounter a variety of barriers when seeking care and support. The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about access to care, barriers, enablers and possible actions to improve access to care for survivors of sexual violence in North Kivu. A deeper understanding of community perceptions about access to care can guide ongoing efforts to overcome barriers and increase access to care for survivors of sexual violence.
Methods
The study utilised a qualitative design, based on focus... (More) - Background
Sexual violence is widespread in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including in the North Kivu province. Moreover, in this region survivors of sexual violence often have limited access to care and encounter a variety of barriers when seeking care and support. The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about access to care, barriers, enablers and possible actions to improve access to care for survivors of sexual violence in North Kivu. A deeper understanding of community perceptions about access to care can guide ongoing efforts to overcome barriers and increase access to care for survivors of sexual violence.
Methods
The study utilised a qualitative design, based on focus group discussions with male and female adult community members in the study area. Previous experience of sexual violence was not a requirement. The transcripts from the discussions were analysed using manifest and latent qualitative content analysis.
Results
A total of 18 focus group discussions were carried out. The analysis resulted in three main themes; Knowledge and misconceptions around medical consequences crucial for care seeking, Community and family attitudes playing a dual role in care seeking behaviours and Care seeking dependent on optimised healthcare facilities and sensitive staff.
Conclusions
Lack of correct knowledge, harmful attitudes from community and healthcare staff, and poorly adapted healthcare services constitute barriers to accessing care. Improved awareness raising around sexual violence is needed to address both lack of knowledge and misconceptions. Efforts should be made to build upon the community support models and actively work to improve community attitudes towards survivors of sexual violence. In addition, there is a need for better adapted healthcare services with improved proximity, access for different groups of survivors and respectful and well-trained healthcare staff. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/27b9570c-e0ff-4947-a813-2c34f5dfd7d6
- author
- Reinholdz, Hanna
LU
; Palmieri, Jack
LU
; Frielingsdorf Lundqvist, Helena
; Kalere, Esther Katungu
; Heritier, Gérard Nteziryayo
; Verputten, Meggy
and Agardh, Anette
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-04-05
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Conflict and Health
- volume
- 19
- article number
- 22
- pages
- 1 - 17
- publisher
- BioMed Central (BMC)
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:40186240
- scopus:105002725444
- ISSN
- 1752-1505
- DOI
- 10.1186/s13031-025-00662-4
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 27b9570c-e0ff-4947-a813-2c34f5dfd7d6
- date added to LUP
- 2025-04-10 13:00:21
- date last changed
- 2025-05-22 04:06:11
@article{27b9570c-e0ff-4947-a813-2c34f5dfd7d6,
abstract = {{Background<br/>Sexual violence is widespread in the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including in the North Kivu province. Moreover, in this region survivors of sexual violence often have limited access to care and encounter a variety of barriers when seeking care and support. The aim of this study was to explore community perceptions about access to care, barriers, enablers and possible actions to improve access to care for survivors of sexual violence in North Kivu. A deeper understanding of community perceptions about access to care can guide ongoing efforts to overcome barriers and increase access to care for survivors of sexual violence.<br/><br/>Methods<br/>The study utilised a qualitative design, based on focus group discussions with male and female adult community members in the study area. Previous experience of sexual violence was not a requirement. The transcripts from the discussions were analysed using manifest and latent qualitative content analysis.<br/><br/>Results<br/>A total of 18 focus group discussions were carried out. The analysis resulted in three main themes; Knowledge and misconceptions around medical consequences crucial for care seeking, Community and family attitudes playing a dual role in care seeking behaviours and Care seeking dependent on optimised healthcare facilities and sensitive staff.<br/><br/>Conclusions<br/>Lack of correct knowledge, harmful attitudes from community and healthcare staff, and poorly adapted healthcare services constitute barriers to accessing care. Improved awareness raising around sexual violence is needed to address both lack of knowledge and misconceptions. Efforts should be made to build upon the community support models and actively work to improve community attitudes towards survivors of sexual violence. In addition, there is a need for better adapted healthcare services with improved proximity, access for different groups of survivors and respectful and well-trained healthcare staff.}},
author = {{Reinholdz, Hanna and Palmieri, Jack and Frielingsdorf Lundqvist, Helena and Kalere, Esther Katungu and Heritier, Gérard Nteziryayo and Verputten, Meggy and Agardh, Anette}},
issn = {{1752-1505}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{04}},
pages = {{1--17}},
publisher = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
series = {{Conflict and Health}},
title = {{Community perceptions about factors influencing access to care after sexual violence in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a qualitative study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00662-4}},
doi = {{10.1186/s13031-025-00662-4}},
volume = {{19}},
year = {{2025}},
}