Authors :
Adama KOUNDOUL; Bernadette F. SAMBOU; Issa WONE; Ibra DIAGNE; Sokhna SECK; Pape Ibrahima SANE
Volume/Issue :
Volume 7 - 2022, Issue 9 - September
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3IIfn9N
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3MjNkAF
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7171718
Abstract :
Sexual violence has a heavy impact on the mental
and physical health of victims, especially when they are
young. In Senegal, health actors and child protection
organizations have shown growing interest in this
problem, but the scarcity of studies and the "sexual
taboo" mean that the available data underestimate the
extent of the problem. The objective of this study is to
determine the epidemiological and clinical profile of
sexual violence against minors in the Ziguinchor region.
A descriptive retrospective study from April 1rst
,
2014 to October 31th, 2019 was conducted. The study
population was made up of sexual violence victims under
the age of 18 whose legal proceedings were handled at the
Ziguinchor High Court. The data was entered into an
Excel spreadsheet and then analyzed using Epi Info™ 7
software.
A total of 106 cases of sexual violence against minors
were collected. Rape accounted for 66.03%. The female
victims were 95.28%. The average age of the victims was
12.62 years (± 3.42). Victims aged ten and over (p = 0.015)
and who had a low level of education (p = 0.016) were
more exposed to rape. The aggression took place during
the day (65.71%) and at the aggressor’s home (62.26%).
Victims knew their attacker (84.47%) and this one was a
family member (11.49%). Victims were assaulted more
than once by the same assailant (40.57%). Those aged 10
years and older (p = 0.0037) and who knew their attackers
(p = 0.014) were more at risk of being repeatedly sexually
abused. Only 11.39% of the victims had consulted within
24 hours of the attack. Among the rape victims, a
pregnancy was objectified in 33 minors (47.14%).
The results of our study show the need to strengthen
sex education among minors in schools and in the
community. Health and judicial authorities should work
closely with child protection institutions and community
actors to eradicate this scourge.
Keywords :
sexual violence, minors, Senegal
Sexual violence has a heavy impact on the mental
and physical health of victims, especially when they are
young. In Senegal, health actors and child protection
organizations have shown growing interest in this
problem, but the scarcity of studies and the "sexual
taboo" mean that the available data underestimate the
extent of the problem. The objective of this study is to
determine the epidemiological and clinical profile of
sexual violence against minors in the Ziguinchor region.
A descriptive retrospective study from April 1rst
,
2014 to October 31th, 2019 was conducted. The study
population was made up of sexual violence victims under
the age of 18 whose legal proceedings were handled at the
Ziguinchor High Court. The data was entered into an
Excel spreadsheet and then analyzed using Epi Info™ 7
software.
A total of 106 cases of sexual violence against minors
were collected. Rape accounted for 66.03%. The female
victims were 95.28%. The average age of the victims was
12.62 years (± 3.42). Victims aged ten and over (p = 0.015)
and who had a low level of education (p = 0.016) were
more exposed to rape. The aggression took place during
the day (65.71%) and at the aggressor’s home (62.26%).
Victims knew their attacker (84.47%) and this one was a
family member (11.49%). Victims were assaulted more
than once by the same assailant (40.57%). Those aged 10
years and older (p = 0.0037) and who knew their attackers
(p = 0.014) were more at risk of being repeatedly sexually
abused. Only 11.39% of the victims had consulted within
24 hours of the attack. Among the rape victims, a
pregnancy was objectified in 33 minors (47.14%).
The results of our study show the need to strengthen
sex education among minors in schools and in the
community. Health and judicial authorities should work
closely with child protection institutions and community
actors to eradicate this scourge.
Keywords :
sexual violence, minors, Senegal
