Best practices in collection and documentation of medical evidence at Thuthuzela care centres in Gauteng province, South Africa

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sexual violence is defined as sexual acts committed against someone who does not or cannot consent and it is a global health problem. The victims of sexual violence face challenges when reporting cases hence not many cases make it to court. In South Africa a multidisciplinary team is part of the initial phase of collecting and documenting medical evidence to build a case that is fit to be presented in court.

AIM: The aim of this study was to document the practices in collecting and documenting medical evidence from records of sexual violence that were prepared for trial at Thuthuzela care centres in the Gauteng Province.

Methodology: A quantitative method was used in conducting this study. A quantitative record review method was used in this study as a form of collecting data. A record review method is used where the collected data in an outcome happening in the current time is connected retrospectively to the determinants that happened in the past.

Results: The findings showed that although the documentation of medical evidence could be improved on, a greater majority of the missing information is due to a lack of understanding of the old J88 forms which require a lot more writing and the new J88 form that requires less long writing but more details. It shows that more training of healthcare practitioners could improve these numbers.

Implications: This study was meant to reveal the reality of the J88 form and its shortfalls therefore showing that more training needs to be given so as to alleviate dragged out cases over the years.

Conclusion: Only the SAEC kit and J88 forms are used as practices to collect and document medical evidence from records of sexual violence that were prepared for court fitness at Thuthuzela Care Centres in the Gauteng Province.