| Preferred presentation mode * |
oral
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| Are you prepared to accept an alternative presentation mode? * |
Yes
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| Title of paper * |
Consequences of sexual harassment and coping strategies in senior secondary school students in a Nigerian town. |
| Authors: * |
Ige O.K, Balogun M.O, Owoaje E. |
| Presenting Author: * |
Ige O.K |
| Topic(s): * |
Intimate partner and sexual violence |
| Other Topic(s) |
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| Key Words |
| adolescent sexual violence |
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Abstract Content *
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Abstract
Sexual harassment in schools creates a hostile environment for victims and undermines the learning process. This study assessed the consequences and coping strategies in students who have experienced sexual harassment. The study was carried out in Igbo- Ora town in the south west of Nigeria. A cross sectional survey of 437 senior secondary school students in four secondary schools was conducted with the aid of interviewer administered questionnaires.
Mean age of respondents was 17 years (1.92), (57.7%) were females. Prevalence of sexual harassment was 26.1% and 44.6% had been harassed in the previous month. No significant difference in the prevalence in both sexes (P>0.05). Sexual comments and jokes occurred in 49.2%, 33.6% had been forcefully kissed and 30.4 % had been forced to do something sexual other than kissing. The mean number of episodes in the last 12 months was 2. Older school mates were the commonest perpetrators (47%) and male teachers the least reported (3.7%). As a result of previous harassment (30.4%) no longer participated in class, (28.7%) had to abort an unwanted pregnancy, (24.3%) had given birth to a child out of wedlock while (19.1%) had dropped out of school temporarily. Due to the current harassment (18%) had trouble sleeping, (18%) had lost appetite and (13%) had difficulty studying. Females were more affected than males (P<0.05). Coping mechanisms include anger at the harasser (55.7%) and staying away from certain places (40.9%). There is an urgent need to initiate appropriate interventions to control sexual harassment in Nigerian schools.
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