BackgroundDespite international acknowledgement of the linkages between sexual violence and conflict, reliable data on its prevalence, the circumstances, characteristics of perpetrators, and physical or mental health impacts is rare. Among the conflicts that have been associated with widespread sexual violence has been the one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).MethodsFrom 2003 till to date Malteser International has run a medico-social support programme for rape survivors in South Kivu province, DRC. In the context of this programme, a host of data was collected. We present these data and discuss the findings within the frame of available literature.ResultsMalteser International registered 20,517 female rape survivors in the three year period 2005–2007. Women of all ages have been targeted by sexual violence and only few of those – and many of them only after several years – sought medical care and psychological help. Sexual violence in the DRC frequently led to social, especially familial, exclusion. Members of military and paramilitary groups were identified as the main perpetrators of sexual violence.ConclusionWe have documented that in the DRC conflict sexual violence has been – and continues to be – highly prevalent in a wide area in the East of the country. Humanitarian programming in this field is challenging due to the multiple needs of rape survivors. The easily accessible, integrated medical and psycho-social care that the programme offered apparently responded to the needs of many rape survivors in this area.

The need to integrate clinical practice and research has been stressed for many years in both public health and nursing. This article describes such a collaborative project between two rural upper Midwest public health nursing agencies and public health nursing faculty from a small, liberal arts, baccalaureate nursing program. The high-risk prenatal research project provided an opportunity for nursing staff and faculty research consultants to work together on a clinical study. A model for collaborative research is illustrated, and advantages and disadvantages for practice, administration, and research are discussed.

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We conducted a descriptive study to determine the relationship between prenatal risk and birth outcomes in the antepartal caseloads of rural public health nurses. A convenience sample of 41 low-income pregnant women was assessed for prenatal risk by the nurses at the time of admission and again after 32 weeks' gestation. Birth outcome data were collected from maternal and infant hospital medical records. Analysis of the difference in mean scores from the first to the second assessment indicated a statistically significant change in the prenatal psychosocial risk score (P = 0.000) after public health nursing care. Physiologic and psychosocial risks at both assessment points were related to only one infant outcome measure: the 5-minute Apgar score. Psychosocial risk in late pregnancy accounted for 22% of the variance in 5-minute Apgar scores.