Review and epidemiological description of rape cases among female adolescents seen at secondary healthcare facility in Abak, south-south Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The rising incidence of rape pandemic among female adolescents is a worrisome phenomenon. This is made worse by the negative culture of underreporting of this devastating crime due to stigmatization of its victims resulting in under prosecution, especially in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE: We undertook a review and epidemiological description of rape survivors among adolescent girls seen at a secondary missionary health care facility in Abak, Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria.

METHODS: This was a retrospective review and description of all rape survivors among female adolescents seen at Mercy Hospital, Abak, Akwa Ibom State between January 2016 and December 2017. The case records of all the adolescent females who presented at the facility during the period of the study were sorted out from the health information unit of the facility. Cases of rape among them were identified. Data from the rape survivors case notes including socio-demographic characteristics, location and nature of the attack, time interval between attack  and presentation, notification of police, profile of the perpetrators and treatment response offered to the victims were extracted,  collated and entered into a spread sheet for analysis.

RESULTS:
Out of 278 adolescent girls who presented at the facility during the period of the study due to one morbidity or the other, 15(5.40%) were cases of rape survivors. The mean age of the rape victims was 14.17 + 2.35 years. Results obtained show that most of the victims (66.67%) were younger adolescents (10-15years), 80% had formal education while 73.33% of them lived with their parents. Also 33.33%  of the attacks occurred in the perpetrators residence,  86.67% of the attacks were penetrative, 46.67% of the victims kept quiet, only 40.0% of the cases were reported to the police, 26.67% reported to hospital within 24 hours, 60% of the attacks were by acquaintance while 80% of the attacks were perpetrated by one assailant. Those who presented within stipulated time received appropriate  treatment interventions including PEP (46.67%). Only age had statistically significant association with rape (p=0.03).

CONCLUSION:
The prevalence of rape among adolescent girls in the study, especially younger adolescents, is high. This portends devastating consequences on the psychophysical health of adolescent girls in the society. It calls for concerted effort from stake holders in adolescent care to be more proactive in working to ensure that sexual  assault against adolescent girls is averted.