CURBING SEXUAL ABUSE AMONG SECONDARY GIRLS: THE ROLE OF THE ACADEMIA

The Cross sectional research was conducted in Igbo-Ora, Nigeria, to find the prevalence, risk factors, students' knowledge and experiences about Sexual abuse in secondary schools; and need for the academia to curb it. The population was female students. Using simple random sampling, 4 schools-Public and private were selected. 300 Questionnaires were administered on the sampled 278 students, and were analyzed using Simple Percentages. The study found that cases of sexual abuse were common- 166 students 183 (64.4%) and 100(35.6%) had and had no education on being sexually abused, respectively, based on the fact that: 127 (44.7%) had been sexually abused; 94 (74.0%) had experienced rape; 34 (26.8%) were verbally or physically assaulted. Responses also showed 208 boyfriends (35.7%), 13Paedophis (3.8%), 101 neighbours (19.1%), 12 strangers (9.4%), 107 teachers (19.3%) and 54 family members (9.7%) were the perpetrators of the vice. Also the study found that 51 (40.2%), of ages 15-19; 48 (37.8%), 10-14, 19 (15.0%) 19 and above, and 9 (7.1%) 5-9, were abused. Consequently, 30 (16.4%) suffered depression, 22 (12%) had unwanted pregnancies, 17 (9.3%) had abortion, 14 (7.7) suffered shame/social stigma, 9 (4.9%) had low grades at school, 8 (4.4) had sexually transmitted infections while 56 (30.6%) suffered no consequence at all. In conclusion, the prevalence of 44.74% found assaulted is high, it was thus recommended that the academia should advocate, strengthening the community-based structures for the girl-child's protection; creating awareness; empowering students to protect themselves; strengthening the law enforcement agencies; and addressing national inequality