Perspective Chapter: Integrating Follow-up Care Management for Assessment and Management of Rape Survivors Diagnosed with PTSD and Depression in Primary Health Care Settings

Abstract

Rape is very high in South Africa. It predisposes rape survivors to many health care problems, including the risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus, sexually transmitted infections, falling pregnant, and long mental health effects. PTSD and depression are regarded as the most common mental health effects diagnosed among rape survivors, and they require long term mental health care management. In the current era, follow-up care management for rape survivors is mostly done at Thuthuzela Care Centres. However, rape survivors do not often go for follow-up care, because these centres are mostly far from them. Thus, this problem can be addressed by integrating the management of these long-term disorders within the primary health care settings in South Africa, because most people have access to their nearby clinics. This chapter aims to describe ways of integrating follow-up care management for continuous assessment and management of rape survivors diagnosed with PTSD and depression through task-shifting these duties to nurses working within the primary health care settings in South Africa. The chapter focuses on the mental health care status of rape survivors diagnosed with PTSD and depression. Training of nurses is essential to manage rape survivors diagnosed with PTSD and depression in primary health care.