Comparison of Trauma on Survivors of Sexual Assault and Intimate Partner Violence in Limpopo

Background: Gender-based violence is a challenge in South Africa; despite available interventions. Caring for the survivors of both forms of violence is critical for ensuring their speedy recovery. Objectives: To compare the effects of trauma on female survivors of sexual assault versus those experienced by survivors of physical assault by their intimate partners.Method: A quantitative cross-sectional comparative study design was used to compare 30 sexually-assaulted women and 30 physically-assaulted women regarding depressive symptoms; posttraumatic stress disorder and coping styles three months after the incident. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the survivors of both types of assault and the Beck Depression Inventory posttraumatic stress disorder checklist and Brief COPE Inventory were administered in order to obtain quantitative data. Both parametric and non-parametric statistics were employed. Ethical measures were adhered to throughout the research process.Results: A significantly-higher proportion of sexually-assaulted women disclosed the incident to family (p = 0.021). The majority of sexually- (90) and physically- (86) assaulted women were likely to recall the incident. Sexually-assaulted women had a significantly-higher mean for avoidance/numbness (p 0.001) and physical-assaulted women in arousal (p 0.051). About 41 of sexually-assaulted participants reported severe depression. Findings confirmed that sexual assault is more personal whilst physical assault is more interpersonal. If physically-assaulted women were removed from the perpetrators they recovered faster than sexually-assaulted women. Their stay with the perpetrators may perpetuate the violence.Conclusion: The need for counselling and support for the survivors of both traumas was recommended. All stakeholders should be educated to provide support to survivors of both traumas

Abordaje de la epilepsia por parte de sanadores africanos tradicionales / African traditional healer's approach to the treatment of epilepsy

Un método de tratamiento de curación tradicional nigeriano fue observado por uno de los autores. Se llevó a cabo la observación de un caso de epilepsia de un joven de 16 años desde el inicio de su tratamiento hasta que el paciente fue dado de alta. El resultado muestra que se usaron los siguientes métodos de tratamiento: adivinación; conjuros; sacrificio a un oráculo; inoculación (201 incisiones) en la cabeza del paciente y algunas hierbas poderosas friccionadas en las incisiones; baños diarios con una solución de hierbas; una ingesta diaria de una mezcla de hierbas secas con una papilla picante. Los autores destacan la necesidad de que haya una documentación continua de los métodos tradicionales africanos de curación. Esto brindaría más aportes sobre la psicoterapéutica y las técnicas médicas utilizadas por los curadores tradicionales africanos para el tratamiento de distintos trastornos. Los autores sugieren también que los sanadores tradicionales africanos y los terapeutas ortodoxos debieran considerarse mutuamente como socios en formación para beneficio de los pacientes. Los diferentes gobiernos e instituciones internacionales deberían también promover la tradición africana de curación y alentar una co-participación de los dos sistemas de salud.