Pathological and Psychosocial Consequences of Sexual Violence Amongst Young and Adolescent Girls in the Kumba Health District, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Abstract

Sexual violence is a serious public health and human rights problem with both short- and long-term consequences on women's physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health. The main aim of this study was to outline the pathological and psychosocial consequences and its preventive measures amongst young and adolescent girls in the Kumba Health District. The sample size was calculated using the Cochran’s formula, a descriptive cross-sectional design was used with questionnaires for data collection. This study involved a total of 200 participants, 53% were internally displaced and 85.5% were not married. Most (71%) reported they had been forced into sexual experience and 67% reported they were threatened or beaten to have sexual experience. Majority (38.5%) of the young girls had poor knowledge of sexual violence, 68.5% mentioned armed conflict as a cause of sexual violence with gang members being the main perpetrators. Most (68.5%) of the participants indicated that sexual violence occurred during the night period. As to the pathological consequence of sexual violence, majority of the participants reported that the victims could end up with human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) (91%), unwanted pregnancy (59.0%) and some (22.5%) reported that it could result in unsafe abortion. Psychosocially, 20% suffered from depression and 17% had difficulty in sleeping, 48.5% felt unsecured while 29,5% were scared of darkness and 79% reported stigmatization. Most (72.5%) also reported that shyness and guilt were the major future consequences of sexual violence and 17% of the victims had no idea on what to do after being exposed to sexual violence. In terms of health seeking behaviour, 54% of the victims sought for help in a hospital/clinic and 70% said they didn’t report because they felt ashamed while 30.5% said they were afraid of the risk of retaliation. In terms of management, treatment and prophylaxis against sexually transmitted infections for victims could be of help. Psychological and emotional support could hasten the recovery process. Sexual violence could be prevented by massive sensitization on sex education. Sexual violence is a major concern and facilities should provide appropriate medical and psychosocial services together with a global sensitization campaign to create awareness on the predisposing factors, management and preventive measures.