The Study of Management Results of the Service System for Survivors of Sexual Assault in Photharam Hospital During the Year 2005-2007

Abstract

Background : Women and children are always victims of sexual assault. Following the policy of the Ministry of Public Health, One Stop Crisis Center (OSCC) has been set up to assist those survivors in the state hospitals all over the country since 2004. In March 2005, the protocol of service system for those survivors in Photharam Hospital has been setup  and practiced until present.

Objective : To evaluate the service system for survivors of sexual assault in Photharam Hospital during the year 2005-2007.

Design        : Retrospective descriptive study

Setting : Photharam Hospital, Photharam District, Ratchaburi Province

Population  : Seventy-one patients who came to the service in Photharam Hospital during the year of  2005-2007 were enrolled.

Methods : Variables of interest were collected from out patient’s files and the record forms following the protocol of the patients during the year 2005-2007.

Results  : There were 71 survivors (70 female) of sexual assault entering the service program of Photharam Hospital during 2005-2007.  The incidence was estimated about 16 to 21 per 100,000  population. 80.28% of the survivors were children and youths under 18 years old. The youngest was 11 and the oldest was 71 year old. 56.34% of the patients came to the service within 72 hours after sexual assault. Eventhough, they had been taken care comprehensively following the protocol including post exposure HIV prevention and emergency contraception, 80% and 56.05% were prescribed antiretroviral drug and contraception, respectively. Most of the patients lost  follow-up especially in the aspect of sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy prevention.

Conclusions : All the patients were assisted and taken care following the protocol. However, the service system for those victims should be revised on the follow up program, the guideline for post exposure HIV prevention especially on compliance problems and side effect of drugs, summarize of each case, confidential management of the files for this group of patients and annual conferences for doctors and service team to update new knowledge and management for helping sexual assault survivors.

Keywords: service system, survivors of sexual assualt