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
Date
2015
Journal Title
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Publisher
BMC international health and human rights
Abstract
Childhood 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.
Methods: A 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.
Result: The 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.
Conclusion: This 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.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child sexual abuse, International Resources, Ethiopia, adolescents
Citation
Mekuria, A., Nigussie, A., & Abera, M. (2015). 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. BMC international health and human rights, 15(1), 21.