Background: Given the high prevalence of HIV infection in this country today it is not difficult to observe the risk faced by victims of sexual assault. In addition, there is a lack of available data on the per-episode risk of HIV infection with specific sexual encounters,¹ and in combination with poor follow-up of sexual assault victims,^2–4 this has resulted in few studies assessing the risk of HIV infection after sexual assault. There is a paucity of research conducted in this field particularly at rape centres in the Cape Metropolitan area of the Western Cape.

Methods: Aim: To obtain a profile of sexual assault victims and the treatment received at the Karl Bremer Hospital Rape Centre over a period of one year.

Study design: Descriptive cross-sectional survey.

Setting: The study was conducted at the rape centre at the Karl Bremer Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. To describe the frequency of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in rape victims, all consecutive patients who presented to the rape centre over the one-year period from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 were included in the sample. A total of 820 patient records were evaluated. The researcher and research assistant examined the victims' folders at the rape centre for information covered in the objectives. A checklist was used as an instrument to obtain relevant information on pregnancy, STIs, pre- and post-test counselling, HIV status, tolerance to anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment post sexual assault and other information covered in the objectives. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

Results: The age of the victims ranged from six to 70 years (average age 23.3). Most of the victims (76.5%) were aged 10–29, 14.3% were aged 30–39, 2.1% were 50 or older and 0.2% were less than 10 years of age. About 5.5% had completed primary school, 26.8% had completed secondary school and only 1.8% had tertiary education. Most of the victims were not married (91.8%) and had experienced their first episode of sexual assault (88.4%). In addition, about 24.6% presented with STI and 12.1% were HIV positive at presentation. About two-thirds (67.2%) of the victims were offered post-coital contraception. It is, however, disturbing to note that only 6.2% had pre-test counselling and only 6.1% had post-test counselling.

About two-thirds (66.83%) of the victims were offered ARV therapy. Of the 548 patients who received ARV therapy, 64.2% were placed on Combivir® and only 1.5% took zidovudine. There seems to be a positive association between STI and HIV infection at presentation (OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.96–4.56). There was no statistically significant difference between level of education, employment status or marital status and HIV status at presentation. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference between number of episodes of sexual assault and HIV status.

Conclusion: The prevalence of STI in victims of sexual assault attending the Karl Bremer Hospital Rape Centre during the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 is 24.6% and that of documented HIV infection, 12.1%. The results also seem to confirm a positive association between STI and HIV infection in this study population. Pre-test and post-test counselling occurred very infrequently and this needs to be addressed. Further, attention needs to be focused on proper training of professional staff members with regard to counselling skills to further enhance the quality of care of sexual assault victims at the Karl Bremer Hospital Rape Centre.