S28.03 - Symposium in migrant women:war rape disclosure in women refugee

Abstract

Clinical experiences in war areas: Croatia for Bosnian Women, Rwanda and kabul

1. 1. Immediate reaction

   1. 1.1 Disclose of war rape in medical secrecy following

   2. - Mental health acute disorder

   3. - Genital Infections or haemorrhages

   4. - and mostly when women got unwanted pregnancy

   5. 1.2 Unwanted pregnancies may be an indicator of war rape

   6. - Some women disclose rape during the first trimester and ask for terminations even if the country has not legalized abortion in its law.

   7. - Other book lately their pregnancy because either they conceal it to their family or they deny it. Some experience harmful or violent thoughts against the fetus. Newborns are at risk of neonaticide and abandonment at birth. Some do not want to disclose their identity while coming to maternity wards.

   8. 1.3 A collective panic may happen if the war rape is disclosed in the media. In this case every effort should be made to prevent stigmatization of babies born as the result of war rape.

2. 2. Long-term reaction

3. Most of women victim of war rape keep silent for a long time.If they develop symptoms like depression, PTSD, social phobia, sexual dysfunction, psychosomatic diseases, etc., they may disclose later the abuse during a medical examination, another pregnancy, a psychiatry follow up or a psychotherapy.

4. Women who have brought up children as the result of rape may ask child psychiatrists for managing their boundings and their questions.

Conclusion:

Healthcare professionals working in migrant centre need to be trained to detec such war rape consequences.