Sexual Abuse of Nige rian Children.

Abstract

Summary:  From January 1985 to December 1987, 25 paediatric victims of sexual assault reported to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar. The abusers included 19 non-related males who shared multi-family compounds with the victims, two servants to the family and an uncle. Targets were children aged 10 years and below with the 4-6 years olds at highest risk. The abuse involved vaginal intercourse in 92% and digital fondling in 8% of cases. Fifty-two per cent of the victims suffered vagino-perineal injuries and 47.4% presented with genital gonorrhoea. To avoid scandal, a majority of the parents preferred to stay away from the police. The findings of this survey throws light on the profile of sexual abuse in the community. Liaison between the social worker, doctor and the police is called for. Professionals in the care of children must be trained to recognise warning signs. Children need guidance on how to recognise and avoid inappropriate sexual activities from an early age.