PREVALENCE AND CAUSES OF SEXUAL DEFILEMENT OF FEMALE MINORS IN LAGOS METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Matthias Olufemi Dada Ojo, Amos Olutunde Abisoye, Debrah Gloria Akazue

Abstract


Sexual defilement of female minor has become a prevalent social problem in Nigeria, and in Lagos metropolis in particular. However, information on awareness, prevalence and causes of it are scanty. This study, therefore, investigated the awareness, prevalence and causes of sexual defilement of female minors in Lagos metropolis. The study adopted descriptive survey design. Data were collected through qualitative and quantitative methods. These involved two in-depth interviews and 100 questionnaire surveys of court officials (77) and social workers (23). Qualitative data were analysed using content analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using frequency distribution. Fifty – Six percent of the sampled court officials were female; 79.0% of them were married and 81.0% of them had between 1 to 3 children. 96.0% of them were strongly aware of sexual defilement of minors as a social problem; while 98.0% of them identified female minors as the most targeted. However, 67.0% of them strongly agree that male minors were not also spared. Sexual desire for the girl (mean = 3. 74); experimenting with sex (mean = 3.97); wanted sex (mean = 3. 86); spiritual cleansing with virgin (mean = 3.44); alcoholic drinks and drugs (mean = 3. 90); opportunity because the minor would not tell (mean = 3. 79); watching sex films and other sexually explicit materials (mean = 3.96); psychiatric problem (mean = 3.40); exposure to sexual abuse in the past (mean 3. 46) and war / conflict / riot (mean = 3.11) were the identified causes of sexual defilement of female minors in Lagos metropolis. Sexual defilement of female minors has become a worrisome problem in the city of Lagos. More awareness campaigns, adequate record keeping of its incidences, more identification of its causes, sensitization and intervention measures were recommended.

Keywords


Sexual defilement, female minors, offenders, prosecution, awareness.

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