Sexual Violence: What Practitioners Can Do!

Abstract

Gender-based violence is an increasing problem- it has been there since years but probably now more people are talking about it and there has been increasing media coverage and social debate on these issues. In fact, the recent ‘MeToo’ campaign on Facebook has made many people, of different genders come out into the open and talk about their past experiences on social media.

As a gynaecologist and medical teacher I can write an entire book on this issue and not still scratch the surface of the complexities involved. From a five year old survivor of penetrative sexual assault who required a colostomy with perineal repair, to a woman with vaginismus, unable to consummate a love marriage due to unresolved childhood sexual abuse, there has been an entire spectrum of cases that have challenged our skills.