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Participants provided self\u2010reported data, collected through interviews conducted by trained female interviewers in secure environments. Associations between VSV and various sociodemographic and reproductive health factors were examined.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Of the respondents, 26.1% reported experiences of sexual violence. VSV were predominantly younger, with 56.44% aged between 15 and 24\u2009years. Single women comprised 57.67% of VSV, and 37.42% identified as farmers. There were 33.13% of VSV who were illiterate, and 81.60% belonged to the low socio\u2010economic stratum. Early physiological and reproductive milestones characterised VSV: 52.15% experienced menarche at or before 13\u2009years, 34.97% initiated sexual intercourse before age 15, and 18.70% reported their first pregnancy before age 15. Higher nulliparity was observed in VSV (29.45%) compared to non\u2010VSV (9.31%). A lower prevalence of HIV infection was found among VSV (11.04%) relative to non\u2010VSV (25.76%).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>Sexual violence in the eastern DRC exhibits multifactorial associations. Younger women, those in certain occupations, and those with specific reproductive histories appear more vulnerable. The findings underscore the urgency for targeted interventions, enhanced access to education, and improved reproductive health services. Addressing these pressing issues should remain a primary focus in both societal and public health spheres.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/ajo.13789","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,26]],"date-time":"2024-01-26T02:54:58Z","timestamp":1706237698000},"page":"283-290","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["A cross\u2010sectional study exploring the characteristics of female survivors of sexual violence living with <scp>HIV<\/scp>\/<scp>AIDS<\/scp> in the eastern region of Democratic Republic of Congo"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"64","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-6511-0890","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Olivier","family":"Nyakio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Evangelic University in Africa  Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Official University of Bukavu  Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5969-4903","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabrice","family":"Kibukila","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Official University of Bukavu  Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine University of Burundi  Bujumbura Burundi"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Denis","family":"Mukwege","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Evangelic University in Africa  Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joyeux","family":"Bwani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine Evangelic University in Africa  Bukavu Democratic Republic of Congo"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Albert","family":"Tambwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine University of Lubumbashi  Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of Congo"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Priyadarshini","family":"Bhattacharjee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Clinical Medicine Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University of Cambridge  Cambridge UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6553-3842","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Soham","family":"Bandyopadhyay","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Neurosciences, Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine University of Southampton  Southampton Hampshire UK"},{"name":"Oxford University Global Surgery Group, Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford  Oxford UK"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9393-1215","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aymar","family":"Akilimali","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Research, Medical Research Circle (MedReC)  Goma Democratic Republic of Congo"},{"name":"Society for Maternal\u2010Fetal Medicine (SMFM)  Washington District of Columbia USA"},{"name":"Standing committee of research and exchange  Medical Students Association of DR Congo"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Prosper","family":"Kakudji","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine University of Lubumbashi  Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of Congo"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jean Baptiste","family":"Kakoma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine University of Lubumbashi  Lubumbashi Democratic Republic of Congo"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,1,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_12_2_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization.Global and regional estimates of violence against women: prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non\u2010partner sexual violence. 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