HIV and the rape victim - allaying the feelings of 'deadly uncleanness for life'
Keywords:
Physicians, family, Rape, Fear, Ethics, medical, HIV seropositivity, Criminal law.
Abstract
Rape victims have historically had feelings of uncleanness described by several authors.' These feelings have in the past, prior to the HIV era, been allayed by a good bath and antibiotic management where indicated. With sub-Saharan Africa having 60% of the world's HIV cases and only 10% of the world's population as well as a rising rape incidence, the fears of HIV sero-conversion post rape are very real.' Indeed, several HIV positive patients at present have histories of rape but rape as the sole etiology has not yet been proven here.
Issue
Section
Review Articles
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