After Rape: Mexican Women’s Help-Seeking and Access to Emergency Health Care in Public Prosecutor’s Offices

Using a mixed-methods design, this study examines the prevalence of women’s rape by someone other than an intimate partner in Mexico, women’s formal help-seeking strategies and their access to emergency healthcare in state attorney agencies. 18 out of every 10,000 Mexican women were raped during 2011. Only 8.37% of them sought help in law-enforcement agencies and less than 1% in public health services. Specialized agencies in sexual crimes tend to lack attention protocols (70%), and medical examiners (26.7%). Emergency medical care for victims is not guaranteed nor are referrals to public healthcare services for emergency contraception, treatment for STDs and pregnancy interruption.