PREVALENCE OF BULLYING AMONG PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IBADAN NORTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Bullying is an anti-social behaviour in schools, which poses a serious public health concern. In spite of the physical, psychological and social consequences of the practice, little information exists relating to its prevalence, typology and associated problems in Nigerian public secondary schools. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of bullying among public secondary school students in Ibadan North East Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A 5-stage random sampling procedure was used to select 400 students from five junior and five senior secondary schools. Pre-tested Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide and questionnaire were used for data collection. The questionnaire included questions on respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, perceived types, factors influencing, experiences of, perceived consequences associated with and prevention of bullying. Quantitative data analysis was done using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at 0.05 level of significance while qualitative data were analysed using thematic approach. The mean age of respondents was 16.2 ± 2.0 years; 50.5% were females and 54.3% were Christians. Majority (69.0%) of the respondents were in the senior class. Bullying was described as thuggery (31.8%), oppression of weaker students (22.0%), fighting one another (12.3%), making jest (10.5%), and abuse of fellow students (6.5%). Many (67.0%) respondents affirmed that bullying took place in their schools during the six months preceding the study and 28.8% reported being bullied at least twice in a month. Types of bullying that occurred in schools included calling colleagues by derogatory names (70.0%), hitting, kicking and shoving around (56.0%), fighting (55.0%) and dislike for fellow students (52.3%), with (56.0%) prevalent rate in the senior class and 44.0% in junior class. Perceived factors facilitating bullying included alcohol consumption (44.8%) and cigarette smoking (37.8%). Items used by bullies included knives (19.3%) and charms (15.0%). International Terrorist Union (ITU) gang was mentioned by a quarter of the respondents as the group who bullied in their schools. It was reported by 66.5% that bullying was perpetrated mostly by senior class students. Also, 36.8% pointed out that bullying took place in the absence of teachers in class. Majority (86.3%) stated that bullying could result into poor academic performance and 75.0% of the respondents were of the opinion that it could lead to depression. To prevent bullying in schools, 50.0% of the respondents mentioned that they had been advised by their teachers against bullying. Bullying of Christian students (30.2%) was not significantly different from Muslims (24.8%). More male students (31.2%) reported being bullied compared to their female counterparts (26.0%). The FGD participants identified members of “Oluigbos People’s Congress” and ITU as the perpetrators of bullying in schools. They also mentioned that some girls had been sexually bullied. Bullying was prevalent in schools with its attendant public health and academic consequences. School Health Education programmes should include sensitisation of students on the dangers associated with and ways of protecting them against bullying.