Child sexual abuse and disclosure in South Western Nigeria: a community based study

Abstract

IntroductionThe true burden of child sexual abuse in Nigeria is not known as most reports are institutional based. This study was designed to determine population level data on the burden and pattern of child sexual abuse among adolescents in South Western Nigeria.MethodsA community based study among adolescents in SouthWestern Nigeria. Semi- structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data from respondents selected through a multistage sampling technique. Analysis was with SPSS version 20.Results398 adolescents (314 females and 84 males) aged 10–19 years with a mean age of 15.6 ± 2.0 years participated in the study. Most were single (90.7%), in school (84.2%), and lived with their parents/guardians (89.4%). The prevalence of CSA was 25.7%. Penetrative abuse occurred in 7.5%, and forced abuse in 46.2% of cases. Perpetrators were mostly boyfriends (31.2%) and neighbours (16.1%). Intra-familial abuse occurred in 7.5% of cases. Only 34.4% of cases ever disclosed the abuse.ConclusionCSA is common in the community, with perpetrators majorly persons known to the adolescents. A large number of cases are not reported. Efforts should be made to educate children and their parents on various ways to reduce child sexual abuse and its consequences.

Prevalence and Patterns of Child Sexual Abuse in Selected Countries of Asia and Africa: A Review of Literature

“…Majority of studies in Africa have shown friend and neighbours to be the most common perpetrators while relatives were most cited in Asian studies. This observation is supported by a number of other authors that CSA is usually perpetrated by someone known to the child (David et al, 2018). Finally, CSA can take place in a variety of setting, at home, school, open place, in the public event and neighborhood.…”

“…Finally, CSA can take place in a variety of setting, at home, school, open place, in the public event and neighborhood. Majority of studies across the world have found similar pattern (David et al, 2018;Lalor, 2004). This shows children are vulnerable everywhere hence coordinated approach is crucial in addressing CSA.…”

“…However, slightly higher rates of pre-pubertal victimization were observed among studies in Africa with some studies reporting to up to 60% of children being sexually abused before they had reached their teenage (Birdthistle et al, 2011). Just over 16% of children in Nigeria experienced their first incidence of CSA between the ages of 5 and 8 years and about 45% between 9 and 12 years of age (David et al, 2018), while 14% of male victims in Kenya reported to have experienced their first episode of CSA when they were 10 years and below (Sumner et al, 2016). The rates for mid and late adolescents were equally devastating.…”

Fatores de risco associados à exposição de adolescentes à violência sexual

“…A violência sexual infanto-juvenil pode se expressar de diferentes formas e conceitos. O abuso sexual é um tipo de violência que envolve atos ou jogos sexuais praticados por qualquer pessoa contra a criança ou adolescente, por meio de suborno, violência física ou ameaça, almejando o prazer sexual do agressor, podendo ocorrer com ou sem contato físico (2,5).…”

Sexuality and other issues in Africa and beyond

“…They found a 25% prevalence among adolescents studied. Most perpetrators were boyfriends or neighbours, and only a third of the cases reported the abuse 1…”