24 HOUR CRISIS LINE: 083 484 9409  
Tel: 021 852 5620 • Fax: 086 519 4358   
Email: help@crisiscentre.org.za  
Helderberg Hospital • Lourensford Road • Somerset West  
Western Cape • South Africa • 7129  
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PREGNANCY
 
National Emergency Contraception - 0800 246 432
 
RAPE VICTIMS PREVENTING PREGNANCY

Emergency Contraception to prevent pregnancy

To prevent pregnancy you need to start emergency contraception within 72 hours of being raped, call 0800 246 432 for help (your doctor and most pharmacies can sell you emergency contraception).

If you know that you are HIV negative or think you are HIV negative it is essential that you get PEP within 72 hours of being raped. The sooner you start with PEP the more effective they are. Call 0800 012 322 (Nation-wide, 24-hours a day) right now to find the closest place for you to get free PEP. If a survivor is given PEP, the chance of contracting HIV is reduced by about 81%. Evidence for convicting the rapist should be collected within 72 hours of being raped (contact your nearest police station).

PLEASE NOTE:
Please remember that this information is not intended to replace medical treatments or medical advice from your doctor or clinic.

IF YOU FIND OUT YOU ARE PREGNANT AND NEED TO TALK
   
South Africa Helplines Worldwide Helplines

0861 322 322
Counselling,
24-hours a day

083 484 9409
Rape Crisis,
24-hours a day

http://www.befrienders.org/ 
(World-wide network with telephone numbers)

http://www.lifeline-international.org/looking_for_help 
(World-wide network with telephone numbers)

http://www.samaritans.org/ 
(World-wide network with some telephone numbers)

http://www.hiddenhurt.co.uk/Resources/helplines.htm 
(UK Helplines)
 
 
TAKE A DEEP BREATH

You have choices. Unplanned pregnancy can be very overwhelming and finding out you are pregnant due to being raped is an extra trauma, but you do have choices. And there are people who can help you. Few women readily choose to have an abortion. But the position they find themselves in when facing an unplanned pregnancy can make them feel there is no alternative. The pressure of circumstances can seem overwhelming and there is often a lack of support at this critical time.

Rape Crisis Helderberg partners with an organization called CHOICES. This organization wants to give you these things. CHOICES is:

  • pro-women
  • committed to empowering through information
  • irrespective of race, age or creed
  • empowers women to make well informed decisions
  • offers hope for their future & their families

With CHOICES you are able to explore all options.

Their services include: Crisis pregnancy centre – offering an information and counselling facility for women and their families facing an unplanned pregnancy. Clients are able to explore all their options. Their main aim is to counsel in such a way that women know they are welcome back.

Abortion – CHOICES offers pre and post abortion support in the form of one-on-one or group sessions, taking the client suffering from post abortion stress, through various issues such as emotional pain, guilt, anger, depression, low self worth and forgiveness.

Adoption – CHOICES works with accredited social workers who help find adoptive parents. Together we offer support to prepare the birth mom, adoptive parents and baby for the adoption plan.

Residential Unit – This is the CHOICES home for pregnant women who have either chosen to release their baby for adoption or who are in need of emergency accommodation. Seven women can be accommodated at one time and all residents are involved in household duties including cooking, gardening, washing and other chores. A homely atmosphere is maintained.

‘Choices’ Skills – CHOICES offers computer literacy classes, sewing lessons and general arts and crafts. These are to equip clients and residents with a means of supporting themselves and thus improving their quality of life.

CHOICES contact details:
Tel: 021 852 6454
Fax: 021 852 6195
Email: choices@iafrica.com
Postal: P.O. Box 3486, Somerset West, 7129
Residential: Schapenberg Road, Somerset West
 
 
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After being raped, even if you do not open a case please:

  • Get evidence collected within 24 hours and no later than 72 hours (the police will take you to the rape crisis centre or hospital)
  • Get anti-retrovirals & emergency contraception within 72 hours (anti-retrovirals are free to rape victims at government hospitals)
  • Get antibiotic medication to prevent other sexually transmitted infections
  • Get counselling from a person trained in rape trauma counselling - it is never too late

You can get all of the above free at our office at Helderberg Hospital, Somerset West

Call 083 484 9409 (24 hours a day) or 021-852 5620 (office hours) or write to help@crisiscentre.org.za.

You do not have to go through this alone.

RAPE TRAUMA SYNDROME is a recognised response to rape and sexual abuse and it includes a variety of problems including various long-term consequences, the symptoms are similar to Post Traumatic Stress. Although many rape survivors suffer from the symptoms of Rape Trauma Syndrome, not all survivors respond to rape in the same way. It is important to treat each rape survivor as an individual and to try and understand what the rape means to that particular person. Coping with being raped may also be more difficult if family, friends and colleagues are not supportive and/or blame the survivor. After the shock has passed, some survivors try to act as if nothing has happened. This is their way of trying to block out the rape, because they feel that they won't be able to cope if they let themselves remember what happened to them. However, if a rape survivor is going to recover well from the impact of a rape, s/he must let her/himself remember the rape and feel whatever s/he is feeling inside. When s/he does start remembering and feeling, s/he will also start suffering from symptoms, but these usually improve gradually over time. It often helps a survivor to have counselling if s/he is experiencing symptoms that upset her/him. The effects of rape are long term. Rape survivors never forget being raped, but many learn how to deal with the memory. Studies have shown that the symptoms suffered by a rape survivor three months after a rape usually continue over the next three to four years, although they do seem to improve over time. Sadly South Africa holds the for the highest rapes world-wide. Interpol estimates that over 1 million women are raped each year in South Africa.
We want to help you to "PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER AGAIN".