OBJECTIVE: To examen the short-term and long-term responses of sexual assault victims who attended a sexual assault centre.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were held with twelve victims of sexual assault who received help from a sexual assault centre. Analyses were done in Atlas.ti. via a process of open, axial and selective coding.
RESULTS: Shortly after assault, the victims' response was to strike a balance between denial and acknowledgement that the violence was real and not their fault. In the ling term most victims experienced a dynamic recovery process with fluctuating responses. Their social support network played a crucial role in reaching out for professional care.
CONCLUSION: Shortly after assault sexual violence victims need the violence to be acknowledged by skilful, empathic care providers. In the long term, victims experience vitims experience a dynamic recovery process with fluctuating responses in which continuity of care is of the utmost importance.