ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the findings of a study undertaken to explore rape experiences and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) use after rape, including the circumstances that facilitate and obstruct. The services provided PEP according to the South African policy of prescribing combination therapy of Zidovudine and Lamivudine for twenty-eight days, started within seventy-two hours of the rape in HIV-negative individuals. Adherence to PEP medication was also related to having knowledge of the prevention mechanism of the drugs, good relations with health workers and support from important others, which mediated the psychological impact of the rape. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the period after rape is a challenging process; only one-in-three informants completed their PEP regimen, and only two women seemed not to have missed any doses. Semi-structured, individual, in-depth interviews were conducted with women who tested negative for HIV after rape and agreed to take PEP. In South Africa, being infected with HIV during rape is a great concern for women.
