Abreha Girmatsion Fisseha, Adhanu Hadgay Hagos, Aregawi Abera Berhe, Wuneh Alem Desta, Tesfay Freweni, Lema Gebretsadik Kiros, Demstu Balem, Teka Hale, Yemane Awol, Gidey Hagos, Gebreselassie Kibrom Berhanu, Hagos Tigist, Tareke Helen Bitew, W/Gebriel Tensay Kahsay, Tesfau Yemane Berhane, Ayele Brhane, Atsbaha Ataklti Hailu, Zegeye Teame, Redda Yaynshet Gebreyohannes, Hassen Abrahim, Godefay Hagos, Mulugeta Afework
School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle city, Ethiopia.
Department of Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle city, Ethiopia.
BMC Public Health. 2025 Jun 5;25(1):2103. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23349-0.
Gender-based violence is becoming an increasing during conflict, with negative short and long-term consequences for the victims, their families, and communities. Since the eruption of war in November 2020 in Tigray, many women reported sexual violence. Thus, this study aimed to explore the physical, sexual and mental health consequences of gender-based violence among female survivors in severely war-affected areas of the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
This study employed mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative studies during the war in Tigray, Ethiopia. A total of 528 sexually abused women and girls were included in the quantitative study from a community-based survey conducted in August 2021. Moreover, six in-depth interviews with rape survivors were conducted to share their experiences. A standardized interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for the community survey and a semi-structured checklist recorded by audio was used for qualitative study. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson chi-square test were used to assess the relationship between health consequences, different socio-demographics, and types of sexual violence. Thematic analysis was performed after the recorded audios were transcribed.
Of the survivors, 435 (82.4%) had been raped and 404 (76.5%) had experienced a triple trauma burden of sexual, physical, and psychological violence. Most survivors had experienced consequences ranging from mild (34.5%) to severe injuries (42.1%), mental health and behavioral problems (75.6%) like posttraumatic stress disorder (12.1%), stress (63.5%), anxiety (38.6%), depression (27.5%), sleeping disturbance (35.2%), nightmare (29.0), flashbacks and social isolation. More than one-fifth (21.8%) of rape survivors experienced sexual and reproductive health problems such as exposure to STIs, unwanted pregnancy, abortion, and HIV. Survivors encountered the worst rape scenarios such as gang rape by troops and combatants.
Survivors experienced severe forms of physical injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder, and sexual and reproductive health problems. Humanitarian agencies and civic organizations need to provide immediate medical and psychological support to victims to reduce further health consequences and harm.
基于性别的暴力在冲突期间日益增多，对受害者及其家庭和社区产生负面的短期和长期影响。自2020年11月提格雷爆发战争以来，许多妇女报告遭受了性暴力。因此，本研究旨在探讨埃塞俄比亚提格雷地区受战争严重影响地区女性幸存者中基于性别的暴力对其身体、性健康和心理健康的影响。
本研究采用混合方法，包括在埃塞俄比亚提格雷战争期间进行的定量和定性研究。在2021年8月进行的一项基于社区的调查中，共有528名遭受性虐待的妇女和女孩被纳入定量研究。此外，对6名强奸幸存者进行了深入访谈，以分享她们的经历。社区调查使用标准化的访谈者管理问卷，定性研究使用音频记录的半结构化清单。描述性统计和Pearson卡方检验用于评估健康后果、不同社会人口统计学特征和性暴力类型之间的关系。在录制的音频转录后进行主题分析。
在幸存者中，435人（82.4%）曾被强奸，404人（76.5%）经历了性暴力、身体暴力和心理暴力的三重创伤负担。大多数幸存者经历了从轻度（34.5%）到重伤（42.1%）、心理健康和行为问题（75.6%），如创伤后应激障碍（12.1%）、压力（63.5%）、焦虑（38.6%）、抑郁（27.5%）、睡眠障碍（35.2%）、噩梦（29.0%）、闪回和社会隔离。超过五分之一（21.8%）的强奸幸存者经历了性健康和生殖健康问题，如感染性传播感染、意外怀孕、堕胎和感染艾滋病毒。幸存者遭遇了最恶劣的强奸场景，如被部队和战斗人员轮奸。
幸存者经历了严重形式的身体伤害、创伤后应激障碍以及性健康和生殖健康问题。人道主义机构和公民组织需要立即为受害者提供医疗和心理支持，以减少进一步的健康后果和伤害。
