Life Time Male Perpetration of Female Sexual Assault in Osun State: Report of a Community Survey

Abstract

Background: Societies across the world detest and outlawed all types of sexual violence. However, these objectionable acts are yet been perpetrated by many people most of whom are men. Rape and other sexual violations cause heavy, lifelong trauma to the victims mostly girls and women. This work seeks to study the perpetrators, determining the prevalence, patterns and motivation for sexual assault by men in Osun State South-West Nigeria. Methodology: Over Four Months period from August to December 2016, a cross sessional survey was conducted amongst men aged 15 years and above living in Urban and Rural areas in six selected local government areas using multistage sampling methods. The research instrument used was a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using the SPSS software version 17.0. Results:  The mean age of respondents were 30.75 ±11.55 years and 31.33 ±12.75 years in urban and rural areas respectively. In urban and rural areas 46.5% and 46.3% are single respectively. The prevalence of perpetrators of grade 1 sexual assault is 64.3 % in urban and 53.3% in rural areas.  For grade 2 sexual assault perpetration 19.6 % in urban and 19.4% in rural were the prevalence. In grade 3 sexual assault 17.4% and 17.2% of the respondents are responsible in urban and rural areas respectively. Similar reasons were given by the perpetrators in both urban and rural areas.  Having experienced domestic violence D.V and or child abuse were both predictors of the male perpetrators of female sexual assault (p<0.001). Conclusion: Between one and three of five (1-3 : 5) of the respondents had Sexually assaulted women in the past. Exposure to Domestic violence and childhood abuse are predictors of the perpetration of sexual assault against women later in life.