Sexual Violence Against Female Children in Liberia: A Cross-Sectional Study of Statutory Rape Prevalence Rates Related to Correlates of Gender Equity

IF 1.4 Q2 SOCIAL WORK
Jessi Hanson-DeFusco, William N. Dunn, Ernest G. Smith
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Abstract

In recent decades, the Government of Liberia (GOL) and international partners have prioritized combatting child sexual abuse, including illicit and harmful early sexual practices involving girls and adult men. Previous studies indicate high rape rates among Liberian female populations, yet more research on specific forms of abuse is needed to better understand the magnitude of the problem. Applying Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework, this paper presents the results of a 2018 mixed-methods study of 719 Liberian young women (ages 18–35) and 493 of their parents, from urban/rural districts in Montserrado. The purpose is to contribute a large-scale representative study establishing the rate of female statutory rape and key correlates. The survey captures data measuring early sexual activity (ESA), education, socio-economic status, demographics, and knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KABs) associated with cultural ethnic customs, rural/urban settings, and gender rights. The statistical analysis indicates that 35.1% (95% CI 30.1–37.1) of Liberian women report experiencing ESA that qualifies as statutory rape under Liberian law. Age, ethnicity, location, SES, education, and most individual KABs are not correlated with lower rates (p < 0.05). The following are associated (unadjusted odds ratio [OR]): advanced education (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.26–5.50); saying no to sex (0.57, 0.36–0.89); equitable work opportunities (2.15, 1.28–3.62); living with a man as a minor (0.47, 0.31–0.74); and early pregnancy (0.45, 0.32–0.65). Additionally, 39.7% (95% CI 31.2–44.1) of male assailants hold school-based occupations. As the ecology of girls is increasingly shifting in low-income nations, it is crucial to better understand the face of abuse to protect children’s welfare.

利比里亚对女童的性暴力:与性别平等相关的法定强奸发生率横断面研究
近几十年来,利比里亚政府(GOL)和国际合作伙伴一直将打击儿童性虐待作为优先事项,包括涉及女童和成年男子的非法和有害的早期性行为。以往的研究表明,利比里亚女性人口中的强奸率很高,但要更好地了解这一问题的严重程度,还需要对具体的虐待形式进行更多的研究。本文运用布朗芬布伦纳的生态框架,介绍了 2018 年一项混合方法研究的结果,研究对象是来自蒙特塞拉多城乡地区的 719 名利比里亚年轻女性(18-35 岁)及其 493 名父母。目的是通过大规模代表性研究,确定女性法定强奸率和主要相关因素。调查收集了衡量早期性行为(ESA)、教育、社会经济地位、人口统计以及与文化民族习俗、城乡环境和性别权利相关的知识、态度和行为(KABs)的数据。统计分析表明,35.1%(95% CI 30.1-37.1)的利比里亚妇女报告曾遭受过根据利比里亚法律被定性为法定强奸的 ESA。年龄、种族、地点、社会经济地位、教育程度和大多数 KABs 与较低的比率无关(p < 0.05)。以下因素(未调整的几率比 [OR])与之相关:高学历(OR 2.63,95% CI 1.26-5.50);对性说 "不"(0.57,0.36-0.89);公平的工作机会(2.15,1.28-3.62);未成年时与男性同居(0.47,0.31-0.74);早孕(0.45,0.32-0.65)。此外,39.7%(95% CI 31.2-44.1)的男性施暴者在学校从事职业。在低收入国家,女童的生态环境正在发生越来越大的变化,因此,更好地了解虐待的面貌以保护儿童的福利至关重要。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
2.00
自引率
8.30%
发文量
33
期刊介绍: This journal offers an outlet for articles that support social work as a human rights profession. It brings together knowledge about addressing human rights in practice, research, policy, and advocacy as well as teaching about human rights from around the globe. Articles explore the history of social work as a human rights profession; familiarize participants on how to advance human rights using the human rights documents from the United Nations; present the types of monitoring and assessment that takes place internationally and within the U.S.; demonstrate rights-based practice approaches and techniques; and facilitate discussion of the implications of human rights tools and the framework for social work practice.
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