24^th World Nursing and Healthcare Conference

Biography

Biography: (WORKSHOP) Nicole Barnett & Shota Shubladze

Abstract

The sexual assault and exploitation of children is an international phenomenon. However, in the Republic of Zambia, children are at a significantly higher risk of exploitation due to child marriage, the vulnerability of AIDS orphans, and the cultural belief that HIV infection can be cured by having sex with a child, also known as the “virgin cleansing myth” (Lecler, 2002). Currently, Zambia is an international leader in the incidence of pediatric AIDS orphans, with current statistics of more than 85,000 children living with HIV and another 380,000 orphaned due to the disease (Avert, 2016). In a country where 1.2 million citizens are affected by the disease, children compete for resources and effective strategies to meet their needs. The multidisciplinary response to sexual assault, which is the hallmark of coordinated Sexual Assault Response Teams (SART), is a model that can fill the gap in Zambia. In the current system, even when assaults are reported, the lack of trained forensic examiners, police investigations and legal interpretation of evidence, results in less than 10% of cases resulting in successful prosecution and conviction. Recognizing the need for a stronger multidisciplinary response system, an experience exchange program was developed, providing training to clinical, police and judiciary representatives. The program brings these key individuals to the US to learn forensic examination techniques, collection and interpretation of evidence. Upon return to Zambia they are supported in adapting what they have learned from the US multidisciplinary training to the dire realities that they face in Zambia.