International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health

Date Rape Experiences and Help-seeking Behaviour among Female University Students in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Date rape is a public health concern in Nigeria. The burden of the problem in Nigerian Universities is, however, yet to be fully investigated.

Objectives: The study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of date rape, context of its occurrence and help-seeking behaviour among female undergraduates of the University of Ibadan.

Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted among 610 female undergraduates selected using a multi-stage random sampling technique. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression.

Results: Respondents’ mean age was 21.0 ± 2.5 years, 50.5% were sexually experienced and prevalence of date rape was 11.8%. The forms of date rape ever experienced included forced vagina sex (80.3%), forced anal sex (10.5%), forced oral sex (15.8%) and forced insertion of fingers into the vagina (32.9%). Date rape was experienced by majority (73.6%) of the survivors when they became undergraduates. Respondents aged 17 -19 were at higher risk of date rape (OR: 4.69, 95%CI: 1.99 – 11.04, P = 0.001) than other age groups. Date rape was experienced by 73.3% in perpetrators’ residence outside the campus. Most (91.5%) survivors of date rape never sought any medical help, legal redress, or counseling services. Reasons adduced for not seeking medical services included lack of serious physical injury (53.0%) and fear of stigmatization (12.1%). Many (57.3%) felt it was not necessary to seek for counseling services.

Conclusions: Date rape is a reality at the University and majority of the victims were adolescents. Most victims did not seek help, a development that can compound effective rehabilitation. Campus-based educational activities aimed at promoting the sexual rights of female undergraduates, social support for survivors, and provision of survivors with rape prevention skills are needed for addressing the problem.

Author(s): Ogunwale Akintayo Olamide, Oshiname Frederick Olore , Ajuwon Ademola Johnson

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