Prevalence and Predictors of Sexual Abuse among University Undergraduates in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Sexual abuse is a public health problem that poses serious challenge to health and wellbeing of young persons, globally.  This study assessed prevalence and predictors of sexual abuse among undergraduate students in the University of Benin, Benin City,  Nigeria in order to develop appropriate preventive intervention Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out among 500  undergraduate students of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. Respondents were selected using multi-stage sampling  technique. Selfadministered questionnaires were utilized for the study. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 21.4 ± 2.8 years  and 300 (60%) were females. Awareness of sexual abuse was 98.0%. Lifetime and period (one year) prevalence of sexual abuse was 320  (64.0%) and 200 (62.5%) respectively. Determinants of sexual abuse were female sex (OR=2.234, CI= 1.532 – 3.527, p<0.001), room sharing (OR=2.637, CI= 0.416 – 0.977, p = 0.039), self-support in school (OR = 2.587, CI= 0.416 – 0.977, p = 0.036), history of previous sexual abuse  (OR = 6.043, CI= 3.689 – 6.238, p = 0.001) and history of abusive relationship (OR= 5.010, CI= 1.321 – 3.234, p = 0.023). Conclusion: Sexual  abuse is prevalent among study population, with more females than males affected. The University of Benin Management should develop  preventive measures that will aid prompt identification and reporting of sexual abuse with anonymity to appropriate authority