Childhood sexual abuse experiences and its associated factors among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town, Gammo Goffa zone, Southern Ethiopia: a mixed method study

Abstract

BackgroundChildhood sexual abuse is a major social problem in Africa including Ethiopia. Moreover, little has been explored about the pattern of childhood sexual abuse in the context of high school students in Ethiopia in general and in Arbaminch town in particular. Thus, the present study aims to assess the prevalence and associated factors of childhood sexual abuse among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town.MethodsA school- based, cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town from 3rd to 8th March 2014. Both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection were used. For the quantitative data, a simple random sampling technique was used to select 369 female students from grade ten of the six high schools. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data and then analysis was made using SPSS version 20 statistical packages. For the qualitative component, fourteen in-depth interviews were conducted and analysed based on the thematic areas.ResultThe prevalence of life time rape among adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town was 11 %. The odds of experiencing life time rape was higher among students who lived alone (AOR = 4.30; 95 % CI: 1.81, 10.24) and among students who lived with their friends (AOR = 3.31; 95 % CI: 1.23, 8.89) than those lived with their parents. The chance of experiencing rape among students who have had no open discussions with their parents about sexuality and reproductive health was higher (AOR = 2.93; 95 % CI: 1.33, 6.45) than those who have had discussions.ConclusionThis study revealed high levels of childhood sexual abuse among the adolescent female high school students in Arbaminch town. Ever having a discussion about sexuality and reproductive health with parents, living arrangement of the student, and father’s educational status had statistically significant association with childhood sexual abuse. Unwanted pregnancy and abortion were the most common reproductive outcomes of rape. Comprehensive school based reproductive health education, community based awareness creation, open discussions about sexuality and reproductive health matters with students at family level are recommended.

Violence Against Children and Associated Factors Among High School Students in Jimma Town

“…Similarly, the highest perpetrators of sexual violence were boyfriend/girlfriend, teachers, and family members, accounting for 35.3%, 25.9% and 14.4% respectively. This nding is consistent with studies conducted among school students in Addis Ababa, Jimma, and Tanzania that reported greater number of respondents were perpetrated by someone they closely knew and the most common perpetrators were found to be friends, teachers, peers and close relatives (17)(18)(19)(20) .…”

“…However, lack of free discussion with parents and gender difference were strong predictors of violence elsewhere but not in our study. This might be due to paternalistic approach of child caring in Ethiopia considered as a norm for both sex (9,11,19) .…”

Prevalence of violence and associated factors among Youth in Northwest Ethiopia: Community-based Cross-sectional study.

“…Living with mother only or father alone was 2 to 2.5 times more likely associated with violence compared to living with both parents. This finding was consistent with a study done in Goa, India [29] and Arbaminch town, Gammo Goffa zone, Southern Ethiopia [30]. The possible explanation could be, parental monitoring and supportiveness minimize their chance of exposure to risks of substance use and violence.…”

Caracterização da violência sexual contra crianças e adolescentes na escola - Brasil, 2010-2014

“…3 Psychological sequels, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, anger, aggression, post-traumatic stress, sexual difficulties, suicidal thoughts, and low school performance, can be found in young adults with a history of sexual violence. 4 The violence suffered by children and adolescents can also have an impact on their families, on future relationships, and on the social environment in which they live.…”