What to Do Immediately After a Rape: A Medical and Safety Guide for Africans

Author: Oke Ikpekpe, MSc (PH)

Medical Reviewer: Azuka Chinweokwu Ezeike, MBBS, FWACS, FMCOG, MSc (PH)

Highlights

• Rape is any sexual penetration without freely given consent.
  
  
• Your safety comes first after a sexual assault; so go to a safe place and remember it was not your fault.
  
  
• Avoid bathing or changing clothes to preserve important evidence, which can be used if you want to make a report.
  
  
• Get medical care as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours, for injury checks, pregnancy prevention, post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV, and infection treatment.
  
  
• Forensic evidence can be collected at healthcare facilities within the first 72 hours.
  
  
• You can receive full medical care even if you are not ready to report; the choice to report is yours.
  
  
• Support is available through helplines, hospitals, NGOs, and community groups across many African countries.

Introduction

Rape is any form of sexual penetration (with a penis, finger, object or any body part) into another person’s vagina, anus or mouth without their freely given consent [1]. Consent must be voluntary. It is not consent if it is obtained through force, threats, intimidation, fear, trickery, or when the person is asleep, drunk, drugged or is a minor below the legal age of consent, which is 18 years old.

In sub-Saharan Africa alone, UNICEF estimates that more than 79 million girls and women (over one in five) experienced rape or sexual assault before they turned 18 years old.

Rape can happen to women, men, girls and boys. It can be done by a stranger, a friend, a boyfriend, a husband, a family member or anyone else. No matter who did it or where it happened, it is never your fault. Nothing you wore, said, drank or did caused it. The blame belongs only to the person who harmed you.

Rape is a serious crime and one of the worst violations of a person’s body, dignity and freedom. It is also a major public health problem in many African communities.

Right now, you may feel shock, fear, anger, shame, or even confusion. All these feelings are normal after such a painful experience, but your safety and health come first. You need to move away from danger and seek medical care as soon as possible.

This article is written for survivors, especially those in African countries and the people who love and support them. It is a step-by-step guide on how to stay safe, get medical help, emotional support and preserve evidence.  

Steps to Take Immediately After a Rape

Rape is traumatic, and the moments afterwards can feel overwhelming. The next sections will walk you through exactly what to do, one small step at a time, to protect your health, your safety and your rights.

Ensure Your Safety Immediately

Most people who commit rape are known to the survivor, such as friends, co-workers, relatives, teachers, neighbours, religious leaders, partners or even strangers. This means rape can happen anywhere: at home, in school, at work, in the market or in places of worship [1].

Wherever it happened, your safety comes first.

• If you were attacked outside your home, going home may feel safest.

• If the rape happened at home, leave and go to a trusted family member’s house, a friend’s home, a safe house, a shelter, or a place of worship where you feel protected.

If you are still in danger, move away from the person and the place as quickly as you can. Go somewhere you feel secure and surrounded by people who truly care about you, so they can support you emotionally and physically, too.

Preserve Evidence

After an assault, it is completely normal to want to bathe, shower or change your clothes to feel clean again. If you can, please try not to do these things yet. Washing your body or clothes can remove important evidence such as blood, semen, saliva or hair. This evidence can help if you later decide to report the assault.Your next step is to go straight to a hospital or health facility.

• Take the clothes you were wearing during the assault with you.

• If you have already changed, put the clothes in a clean brown paper bag or wrap them in a clean cotton sheet or newspaper.

• Never use a plastic bag because it can damage the evidence [2]. Keeping evidence does not mean you have to report to the police right now or ever. It simply keeps your choices open. If you do choose to take legal action later, this evidence can make your case much stronger [1,2].

Seek Immediate Medical Care

It is important to get medical help as soon as possible after a sexual assault. This protects your health, helps prevent infections or pregnancy, and allows injuries to be treated early. Some injuries may not be visible right away, but can become serious if they are not checked [2].

At the hospital, a doctor or nurse will examine you, do some tests, treat any injuries, and provide preventive care. You may receive:

• A tetanus shot if your last dose was more than 5 years ago or if you are unsure.
• The first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, if you are hepatitis B negative. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends this unless you have been fully vaccinated and have documented immunity [3].
• HPV vaccination is recommended if you are between 9 and 45 years old and not fully vaccinated. This applies to both females and males.

You will also be tested and given medicines to protect your health. These may include [3,4,5]:

Emergency Contraception (for women and girls who can get pregnant)

You will be offered emergency contraception after a negative pregnancy test. Common options include:

• Levonorgestrel (Postinor-2), which is widely available.
  
  
• Ulipristal acetate, this is more effective.
  
  

• Intrauterine Devices (IUDs), the most effective method and can be inserted up to 5 days after the assault in many African hospitals.

HIV Prevention (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis)

You will have an HIV test, but if testing is delayed, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) should still be started immediately. PEP is a 28-day HIV prevention medicine that works best when taken within 72 hours. The medicine may cause side effects such as nausea, but it is important to complete all 28 days.

Treatment for Other Sexually Transmitted Infections

You may be given medicines to prevent or treat infections that the attacker may have had. These include:

• Ceftriaxone injection for gonorrhea
• Doxycycline taken twice daily for 7 days for chlamydia
• Metronidazole (for females) is taken twice daily for 7 days for infections like trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginosis

These medicines are safe for both adults and adolescents.

Evidence Collection and Preservation

Getting medical care also allows health workers to collect any evidence. A forensic exam (often called a 'rape kit') is done, which involves a head-to-toe examination. During this exam, a specially trained nurse or doctor will collect samples from your body, hair, and clothing. These samples can include things like semen, saliva, skin cells, or hair left by the attacker [6]. These substances contain unique DNA, which is like a genetic fingerprint that can help identify the perpetrator. 

The best evidence is collected within 72 hours because the sperm live for about 72 hours, but you can still report and receive medical care after this time [6]. In addition, the earlier the body fluids are assessed, the better the evidence.

Boys and men can also be raped, and the medical steps, emotional reactions, and treatment options are the same. Getting care immediately after sexual assault is one of the most important steps you can take.

Decide Whether to Report the Assault 

Reporting a sexual assault is a personal decision. There is no single correct choice, only the choice that is right for you, and no one has the right to force you to report if you are not ready.Rape is a crime; many African countries now have gender or family support units at police stations where officers are trained to handle rape cases respectfully and confidentially [7].

If you decide to report, it is helpful to do so early because medical checks done soon after the assault make it easier to collect evidence. After giving your statement, the police will take you to a hospital or sexual assault referral centre for treatment and a forensic exam [7].

If you are not ready to report, you can still go directly to a hospital for treatment, PEP, emergency contraception, STI prevention and emotional support. A forensic exam can still be performed to collect and securely store evidence. This preserves your option to report the crime to the police at a later date, as your decisions about reporting can change over time.

Access Emotional and Psychological Support

• Rape affects both emotional and mental health. Feelings like fear, anger, sadness, shock or confusion are common.
• Without support, these reactions can develop into conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety or depression.
• Speaking with a counsellor helps you feel less alone and provides practical tools for coping and healing.
• A counsellor can also help you think through decisions about reporting and planning your next steps if you feel unsafe or were threatened.
• Your family and friends are affected. They might need support or guidance so they can help you without causing distress.
• Many hospitals, non-governmental organisations and community centres have trained counsellors for rape survivors.
• You can request hotlines, pamphlets or contact information for local support services.

Care for Yourself After the First 24–48 Hours

Some of the steps to aid your recovery process after the first two days include 

• Finishing Your Medication: Complete the treatment, and don't miss the HIV PEP pills for the full twenty-eight days to ensure that it is effective. 
• Attend Your Follow-up Appointments: After two to four weeks, go for a pregnancy test even if you took emergency contraception. Follow the schedule for HIV and STI testing assigned by the doctor, which is usually within six weeks and three months. These checkups confirm health and provide peace of mind [3,4,8].

Take Care of Your Emotional Well-being 

• Write down thoughts when they surface. 
• Rest often, even if it is difficult to sleep. 
• Keep your routine simple; you can include simple exercise when you are ready. 
• Be kind and patient with yourself. 
• Use the deep breathing technique when you feel stressed. 
• Talk to a trusted person, such as a friend, family member, or counsellor.
• Watch your internal dialogue and reject negative self-talk or thoughts. 
• Do not cut yourself off from people or activities that ground you.

Supporting a Survivor: Guidance for Family & Friends

Supporting someone who was assaulted is tough, and you might be terrified of saying the wrong thing. Just being present, listening, and showing you care makes a massive difference. Trying to ignore what happened makes them feel so much more alone. 

Every survivor is different, but these steps are essential for helping them [1]:

• Believe Them: This is the most important action. Never ask blaming questions. Do not ask, "Why were you there?" or "What were you wearing?" Instead, ask gentle questions focused on their current feelings and needs. 
• Listen with Care: Give them space to talk at their own pace and do not pressure for details unless safety is involved. 
• Keep responses simple, calm, and supportive, while observing their emotions. 
• Show Empathy by acknowledging their feelings as valid and being present for them. 
• Do not focus the conversation on yourself or your stories. 
• Avoid Judgment by never blaming the survivor, under any circumstances. The rape is not their fault, and if they blame themselves, remind them that the perpetrator is the only person who should be held responsible. 
• Respect Their Choices: Do not pressure them into any step; let them decide on their own and support their choice.  
• Protect Their Privacy: Do not tell anyone what they shared with you except they permitted you to.

Being supportive, patient, and non-judgmental helps them to feel safer and aids their healing process.

Conclusion

You are a survivor who is not defined by what happened, even though it was cruel and unfair. You still have a bright future ahead of you and are still the strong, vital person you once were.

One of the most important steps you can take after a sexual assault is to seek help as early as possible. Getting medical care quickly protects your health, helps prevent infections and pregnancy, and allows professionals to collect forensic evidence within the best time window. This evidence can help protect your right to seek justice if and when you choose to.

It is possible to heal, and numerous men, women, girls, and boys have travelled this difficult path and gone on to have fulfilling lives. You will as well because your life is precious and you are strong enough to recover and reclaim your future.

Where to Get Help

If you have experienced rape or any form of sexual violence, help is available. Many hospitals, non-governmental organisations, and helplines across Africa offer free and confidential medical care, counselling, legal support, and safe spaces.

Below are some trusted places you can reach out to [9]:

Nigeria

Mirabel Centre (Lagos)

Provides medical care, forensic exams, counselling, and legal support.

Helpline: 0817 627 5695

WARIF (Women at Risk International Foundation)

Offers medical care, psychosocial support, legal aid, and shelter.

Helpline: 08009210009

Stand to End Rape (STER)

Provides counselling, legal support, and referrals to medical care.Contact: Through their website and social media.

Helpline: 08095967000

Kenya

GVRC – Nairobi Women’s Hospital

Offers free medical treatment, counselling, and legal guidance.

Helpline: 1195

COVAW (Coalition on Violence Against Women)

Provides legal support and counselling.Phone: +254 733 594 794

South AfricaThe Tears Foundation

24/7 crisis support, referrals to clinics, shelters, and police.

Helpline: 08000 83277        WhatsApp: 060 939 1857

Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust

Offers counselling and court support.

Helpline: 021 447 9762          

Whatsapp 083 222 5164 

GhanaDOVVSU – Ghana Police Service

Handles sexual and domestic violence cases and links survivors to medical care.

Visit any police station and ask for DOVVSU.

Ark Foundation, Ghana

Provides counselling, temporary shelter, and legal support.

Phone: +233 24 377 7773

Rwanda, Uganda & Others

Most countries have special gender desks at police stations, hospitals that provide free initial care, and NGOs that offer counselling and legal help. Survivors can visit the nearest hospital or police gender desk for immediate support.

Note: This is not a full list, but a starting point. Services may vary by location, so it is best to call first to confirm. Government hospitals in many African countries are also required to give free first medical care and link survivors to social workers and the police if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What should I do first after a rape?

Your safety comes first. Move to a safe place and seek help from someone you trust. Try not to bathe, wash, or change clothes until you get medical care to protect evidence.

2. Why is it important to go to the hospital quickly?

Going early helps treat injuries, prevent HIV and STIs, and reduce the chance of pregnancy. It also allows health workers to collect evidence in case you later choose to report the assault.

3. Do I have to report the rape to the police?

No. Reporting is your choice. You can receive medical care even if you choose not to make a report. Take your time and do what feels right for you.

4. What is PEP and why is it important?

PEP is usually a combination of 3 tablets daily for 28 days. It works best when started within 72 hours, so going to a clinic as soon as possible is important.

References 

1. Invictus Africa, Open Society for West Africa. The Survivor’s Guide: A practical guide for survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence. 2020. Available from: https://invictusafrica.org/the%20survivor's%20guide.pdf
   
2. Women for Change. What to Do After Being Raped: A Guide for Survivors. 2023. Available from: https://womenforchange.co.za/what-to-do-after-being-rape/
   
3. Naidoo M, Kaswa R, Govender I. Post-exposure prophylaxis for sexual assault victim-survivors: Guidelines and best practices. South African Family Practice. 2025;67(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4102/safp.v67i1.6073. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/pmc12224145/
   
4. MSD Manual Professional Edition. Medical Examination of the Sexual Assault Victim. 2025. Available from: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/domestic-violence-and-sexual-assault/medical-examination-of-the-sexual-assault-victim
   
5. Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust. Know Your Rights: SRHR. 2020. Available from: https://rapecrisis.org.za/tag/sexual-and-reproductive-health-rights
   
6. Adefuye AO, Egenasi CK, Benedict MOA. Forensic evidence preservation following an incident of rape: The role of the victim. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2024 Jan 25;66(1):e1-e5. doi:10.4102/safp.v66i1.5776. PMID:38299527; PMCID:PMC10839210. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38299527/
   
7. Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC). Rape Survivors’ Guide to the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria: A Simple Guide for School and University Students. 2019. Available from: https://wardcnigeria.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/rape-schools-universities-women-advocate-nigeria-2.pdf
   
8. Women’s and Children’s Health Network. Coping After a Sexual Assault. 2025. Available from: https://www.wchn.sa.gov.au/our-network/yarrow-place/rape-and-sexual-assault-topics/coping-after-a-sexual-assault
   
9. Global Citizen. 5 Organisations Supporting the Fight Against Sexual Violence in Nigeria. 2021. Available from: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/organisations-fighting-sexual-violence-nigeria/

Disclaimer:
The information provided on this website is for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Published December 1, 2025