Wetin happen to you no be your fault. No matter how e take happen, no matter who di oda person be, and no matter wetin you do or you no do, sexual assault (rape or any sex wey dem force you do) no dey ever be di fault of di person wey e happen to.

Dis page dey explain di practical health steps, especially about HIV. Read am slowly, di way wey suit you.

If di assault happen for di last 72 hours, abeg go find care now. PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis: HIV medicine wey you go take afta exposure to stop di virus) na medicine wey you go take for 28 days, and e fit prevent HIV. You must start am within 72 hours, and e dey work best if you start am within 24 hours. Go emergency department (A&E) for hospital or sexual assault service. You fit carry person wey you trust follow you.

Where you fit go

  • Emergency department for hospital. E dey open every time, and dem fit start PEP and treat injury.
  • Special sexual assault service, where e dey. For UK, dem dey call dem sexual assault referral centres (SARCs). For US, ask weda sexual assault nurse examiner (nurse wey get special training for dis kind care) dey. CDC guidelines recommend make dem involve one where e possible.
  • Sexual health clinic or your own doctor, if dem fit see you today.

To get medical care no mean say you don commit to anytin. For UK, NHS tok say you no must report di assault to police if you no want. Dem fit do forensic examination (check wey dem dey do to collect evidence) and keep di evidence while you dey decide, and na your choice weda dem go examine you at all.

If you dey tink to keep evidence, NHS suggest make you try no wash your body or change your cloth immediately. But if you don do am already, e dey okay. Abeg, still go for care.

Wetin di care fit include

You fit tok yes or no to each part, and you fit ask question any time.

  • PEP for HIV. CDC guidelines tok say dem suppose offer PEP as part of care afta assault wen serious risk of HIV dey. You go take am every day for 28 days. You no need to describe pass wetin you comfortable wit, but di timing and di type of contact go help di doctor or nurse decide.
  • Emergency contraception (medicine wey fit stop belle afta sex), if belle fit happen. Ask about am for di same visit.
  • Oda infections. CDC recommend treatment to prevent chlamydia, gonorrhea and, for women, trichomonas. Dem fit also offer you hepatitis B vaccine and, where e good for you, HPV vaccine.
  • Injury, plus di ones wey you fit neva notice.
  • Test. Baseline HIV test (di first test wey dem go use compare later), and test for oda infections if you want.

How to pay for care

Cost no suppose stop you from getting help. CDC tok say if dem prescribe PEP for you afta sexual assault, you fit qualify make dem pay you back part or all di moni for medicine and clinic care. For US, CDC guidelines tok say survivors wey report di assault to police fit qualify make dem pay dem back for medical expenses through victim compensation programs. Ask di staff wetin apply for where you dey.

Follow-up

If you take PEP, plan for HIV test about 4 to 6 weeks and 12 weeks afta di assault. Negative result at 12 weeks show say you no get HIV. If you get fever, rash, sore throat or swollen glands for di weeks afta, contact di clinic and ask for HIV test. How HIV test correct week by week dey explain di timing for test.

If e don already pass 72 hours, dem no dey recommend PEP again, but test, care for STI (sexually transmitted infection, wey be infection wey dey pass through sex) and support still dey important. See wetin to do afta 72 hours.

Support

No right way dey to feel afta. Some pipo dey feel numb (like say notin dey touch dem), some dey feel say e too much for dem, and feelings fit change from one day to anoda. You no need to carry am alone.

  • Sexual assault hotline dey give you person wey you fit tok to. For US, CDC guidelines point to RAINN. For England and Wales, NHS list Rape Crisis.
  • Staff for di hospital or clinic. Ask weda person dey wey fit support you through di visit and explain your options, including how to report.
  • Pipo wey you trust. Friend or family member fit follow you go appointment.

If worry about HIV dey heavy for your mind as you dey wait for result, how to handle HIV anxiety fit help.

Wetin to do now

  1. If you dey for danger, go where safe and call di emergency number for your area.
  2. If e happen for di last 72 hours, go for care now and ask about PEP.
  3. Ask about emergency contraception and STI treatment for di same visit.
  4. Decide about reporting for your own time. You fit get medical care weda you report or not.
  5. Find support from hotline, advocate (person wey go stand for you) or person wey you trust.