PREDISPOSING FACTORS AND LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS AMONG IN-SCHOOL FEMALE ADOLESCENTS ON RAPE PREVENTION IN OSE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE

Abstract

Rape is a problem of considerable proportion in Nigeria especially among female adolescents who reports their first sexual experience as being forced. Little or no primary preventive measure has been implemented to curb this act due to some weak legal policy to prosecute sexual assault perpetrators yet the crime remains under reported and under prosecuted. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating the predisposing factors and level of preparedness among in school female adolescents on rape prevention in Ose Local Government Area, Ondo State. This was a descriptive cross sectional study that used 4-stage sampling technique to select 295 participants from in-school female adolescents attending public secondary school in Ose LGA. Data were collected using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Quantitative data was collected using a validated semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Knowledge was assessed on a 20-point scale; score of <10 was rated poor, 10-15 as fair and >15 was rated good. Perception level was assessed on a 16 point scale with 0-5 as negative, >5-10 as moderate and >10 as positive. Preparedness level was assessed on a 10 point scale with 0-3 as low level preparedness, >3-7 as moderate level of preparedness and >7 as high level of preparedness. Concurrently, qualitative data are collected using an In-depth interview (IDI) guide. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and chi square statistics at p<0.05 while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Respondents were all females and the mean age was 14.2±1.9years. Some (55.6%) of the respondents had good knowledge, 67.1% had a good perception of rape, 93.9% of the respondents reported that demanding or collecting material things from boys or men could be one of the predisposing factors to rape while 62.0% had fair level of preparedness to rape prevention. Only 6.1% reported to have had forced sexual intercourse. Knowledge was found to be significantly associated with rape. Level of preparedness to rape prevention by in-school female adolescent was also significantly associated with the predisposing factor. The In-depth Interview revealed that there is a need to empower female adolescent with rape prevention intervention to reduce rape. The study revealed factors that could predispose in-school female adolescents to rape and also increase their level of preparedness to rape prevention. Health promotion and education strategies such as public enlightenment, rape awareness campaign, life building skills and bystander intervention are needed to address predisposing factors of rape and improve level of preparedness to rape prevention.