KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN IBADAN NORTH-WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Abstract

Sexual violence is a major public health problem affecting adolescents in Nigeria. It is a major cause of many reproductive morbidity including unwanted pregnancy, abortions, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and Human Immune Virus/ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in this population. Although several studies have documented the extent of violence among adolescents, none has explored their opinion and attitude about this problem. This study assessed the knowledge and attitude of secondary school students about sexual violence with a view to identifying strategies to address the problem. The study was descriptive in nature. It was conducted among students aged 10-19 years in ten (10) schools in Ibadan Northwest Local Government Area (LGA) of Oyo State. Eight (8) Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted in four (4) randomly selected schools. Five hundred and seventy (570) students randomly selected from junior and senior classes in ten (10) schools were interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire. Variables explored included age, Sex, class, religion, sexual behaviors, knowledge of sexual violence and attitude towards forced sex. The FGD was transcribed and data analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software. FGD participants identified rape, unwanted touch of the breast and buttocks, demands for sex from female students, forceful kissing, male teacher beating up a girl due to refusal of sex and forceful abortions as examples of sexual violence. The survey results showed that there were equal numbers of males (285; 50%) and females (285. 50%) in the study. The ages of the respondents ranged from 10-19 years with a mean age of 14 years (±2.0). Of the 53 (9.3%) who had sex, 10(1.9%) were coerced (5 males and 5 females) and perpetrators were "school mother, step-father, boyfriend, girlfriend, neighbors, classmate, schoolmate and church members". An overall mean knowledge of sexual violence score of 15.7±4.7 out of 22 points was recorded. Males were slightly more knowledgeable about sexual violence (15.9±4.5) than females (15.5±4.8) (P=52) Higher knowledge score was obtained by those aged 15-19 years (15.9 ±4.5), those in junior classes (15.8. ±4.5) and those who had experienced forced sex when they were below 10 years of age (18±2.0) Concerning attitude towards forced sex an overall low mean score of 8.3±2.2 out of 24 points was recorded but slightly higher among those aged 10-14 years (8.5±2.2) (p=0.002) and those in junior classes (8. 65±2.1). Lower mean attitude score was also found among those that had experienced forced sex when they were below 10 years of age (8.3±0.6). Males (8.5±2.2) had a slightly more positive attitude towards victims and perpetrators of forced sex than the females (8.1±2.1) (P=0.049). Out of the ten (10) respondents who had experienced forced sex, only two (2 females) sought medical care. This study revealed a relatively high level of knowledge about sexual violence among secondary school students, however, most survivors of violence did not report this phenomenon. Adequate sex education on sexual violence with life skills components needs to be incorporated in the schools' curriculum to improve assertiveness skills and attitude towards sexual violence.