Prevalence and Factors Associated with Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State

Simeon Derefaka Ogan; Kalada McFubara

doi:10.56201/ijmepr.v10.no6.2026.pg40.53

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Prevalence and Factors Associated with Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State

Simeon Derefaka Ogan, Kalada McFubara

Abstract

Background: Sexual abuse among adolescents is an important public-health and child- protection concern, with consequences for physical, mental, social and educational wellbeing. Evidence from school settings also suggests that abuse may be perpetrated by people known to adolescents and may remain undisclosed. The study aimed to determine the prevalence, knowledge and factors associated with sexual abuse among adolescents in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 senior secondary school students (SS1–SS3) in selected public and private co-educational schools in Okrika Local Government Area. A multistage sampling procedure was used. Data were collected with a semi-structured interviewer-assisted questionnaire adapted from the WHO Illustrative Questionnaire for Interview-Surveys with Young People and a Nigerian adolescent sexual-initiation instrument. Data were analysed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation and logistic regression were performed at a 5% significance level. Results: Of the 420 respondents, 202 (48.1%) reported having experienced sexual abuse and 218 (51.9%) had not. Among those reporting abuse, 142 (33.8%) first experienced it at 10 –14 years and 60 (14.3%) at 15 – 19 years. The most frequently reported forms were unwanted touching (21.9%), verbal harassment (16.2%) and rape (10.0%). Relatives were reported as perpetrators by 15.5%, neighbours by 13.3%, and fellow students by 13.3% and teachers by 6.0%. Overall knowledge was poor among 299 (71.2%) respondents and good among 121 (28.8%). In adjusted logistic regression, respondents aged 15 – 19 years had lower odds of abuse than those aged 10 – 14 years (aOR = 0.42, 95% CI = 0.20 – 0.87, p = 0.02); females had higher odds than males (aOR = 2.66, 95% CI = 1.56 – 4.53, p < 0.001); respondents living with their fathers had lower odds than those living with both parents (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11– 0.71, p = 0.01); respondents with unemployed parents had higher odds than those with employed parents (aOR = 4.70, 95% CI: 2.29 – 9.66, p < 0.001); and good knowledge was associated with lower odds of abuse (aOR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.25– 0.96, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Sexual abuse affected nearly half of the surveyed adolescents, while overall knowledge was poor. Prevention should combine comprehensive sexuality education, strengthened parental supervision and communication, confidential school-based reporting and support mechanisms, and attention to socioeconomic vulnerability.

Keywords

adolescents; sexual abuse; sexual violence; knowledge; parental supervision; school IJMEPR health; Okrika; Rivers State

References

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Prevalence and Factors Associated with Sexual Abuse Among Adolescents in Okrika Local Government Area, Rivers State

Abstract

Keywords

References

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