FACTORS AFFECTING RAPE CASES AMONG STUDENTS IN SELECTED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN OYO STATE

Abstract

Rape or sexual assault is a common social disorder among students in our tertiary institutions. The prevalence, pattern, determinants and health consequence of rape on female undergraduates is becoming worrisome. In view of the alarming nature of the reported cases of rape and sexual assault the researcher decide to examine the factors affecting rape cases among students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria institutions of higher learning. The study was anchored on the biology of human  rape theory by Jurimetrics J. 137(1999) .The major instrument of data collection was a structured questionnaire the was administered to the target population, the study adopt survey research design and descriptive statistics as a result of the population sizes, the software for the data analysis was the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), the method of data analysis adopted for the study was the simple percentage and the hypotheses were tested with chi-square statistics. Based on the findings, it is concluded that University female students were sexually coerced or raped by different categories of people in the University Community irrespective of their age and marital status due to factors such as inadequate security, deception, alcoholic consumption, cultist activities, inability to hold onto their decisions and other permissive attitudes allowed in Nigeria Universities, the researcher therefor recommends that Counsellors should clamour for more effective security in Nigeria  Universities to curb maladjustment behaviours among students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        CHAPTER ONE

                                        INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Rape is any sexual act performed by one person on another without the persons consent and it includes genital, oral or anal penetration by a part of the accused body or by an object. It may result from force, the threat of force either on the victim or another person, or the victim‟s inability to give appropriate consent Elegbeleye (2006). Sexual assault have been described or categorised based on personal relationship as marital, acquaintance, incest and date rape, or legally in terms of age as statutory rape and child sexual abuse. It is a serious violent crime that has no place in any ideal society and no one can justify its prevalence in any community that thrive on mutual trust particularly our tertiary institutions Casteen JT (20014). Our universities and other tertiary institution are by conception knowledge dissemination centres where knowledge is both brought in and taken out by students as well as teachers and it further inculcate moral values that will influence positive behaviour change to the students in the course of the training. These are the attributes that qualifies student for award of certificates which at graduation ceremonies summarised as found „worthy both in character and learning‟. Equally, not only positive knowledge but negative knowledge and experiences are consciously or subconsciously distributed in both directions which manifest with immoral behaviours as sexual assault. Sexual assault is becoming a common occurrence among students; the vulnerable group were the weak female students which both the lecturers and fellow male students take undue advantage to abuse. This was facilitated by the degree of freedom of social interaction among young men and women encouraged by the learning environment and lack of parental supervision because they are away from home. In Nigeria, random observation lend credence to higher prevalence of rape in our higher institutions of learning than found in any stratum of our society The Guardian newspaper (2005). Sexual violence is an act that involves any unwanted, nonconsensual sexual contact, ranging from kissing or fondling to rape or attempted rape Gross (2002). The violence does not necessarily connote the use of force but may follow coercion. Sexual violence occurs in both gender but is known to affect the female gender more commonly. Several factors such as societal norms, economic factors, wars and conflicts plus cultural factors make the victim vulnerable. The prevalence of sexual violence is difficult to estimate because of variations in how data sources define sexual violence and also how information about it is gathered. In South Africa the prevalence is 4.5 – 7.2% while in Nigeria 3,4,5 rates of 14.2- 81.0% had been documented. In Nigeria, it has been reported as part of intimate partner abuse, domestic violence and Amobi et al (2002), among infant welfare clinic attendees. Pregnancy is also not an exception with domestic violence rates of 10.0-14.2% reported among pregnant women in United 5,6,8 Kingdom and Lagos, Nigeria. Sexual coercion which is a form of sexual violence has been defined as the use of force or attempt to force another individual through violence, threats, verbal insistence, deception, cultural expectations, and economic circumstances to engage in any sexual activity against his or her will Ellsberg M, and  Heise L (2005). It occurs in all age groups with rates of 13.4-55.0% among youths 9,10 in Nigeria. Rape is an extreme form of sexual violence occurring across all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups Aimakhu (2004). It is underreported with 50-84% of its extreme form not reported  Lu MC, Lu JS, Halfin VP (2005). Although it occurs in all ages, the young are at greatest risk. Rates of 12% had been reported among adolescents in Ibadan and 25% Aimakhu (2004). True incidences are not accurate because most cases of rape and sexual assault are under-reported by the victims for fear of stigmatisation and reject among colleagues and the society. The females victims were mostly blame for the act, while the culprits are usually left unpunished. Common factors speculated as favouring sexual assault in our institutions are indecent dressing by the females with resultant display of sensual body parts (like breasts, navel and buttocks) through tight and transparent wears popularly referred to as “sexual flashpoints”. This often prompted school authorities to decree against indecent dressings by formulating code of conduct to guide female students. Other reports have implicated insecurity, decay in societal values compounded by violent tendencies among students in form of cult activities and lacklustre attitudes of school authorities toward the culprits who perpetuate such indecent behaviours.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The problem of rape has remained unaddressed in our educational institutions. It prevents students from attaining their maximum intellectual, emotional and educational potentials. It is a psychological threat to a conducive learning environment. Various forms can occur in the university setting among undergraduates and they include rape (by strangers or in dating relationships), unwanted sexual advances, sexual harassment, demanding sex in return for favours, sexual abuse of mentally or physically disabled people, fondling or grabbing of sensitive parts. Due to the sensitive nature of sexual violence and the culture of silence in our society, there is very little reporting of such incidents. Nonetheless, victims of rape tend to feel overwhelmed and require ample support. Where this is unavailable/ inaccessible, they would be less likely to report and seek help. A better understanding of the occurrence of sexual violence in the university campuses is critical for primary prevention it is view of the above that the researcher intend to examine the factors affecting rape cases among student of tertiary institutions in Nigeria with emphasis on university of Ibadan

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study has two objectives, the broad objective and the specific objectives the broad objective of this study is to examine the factors affecting rape cases among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The specific objectives are;

1. i) To examine the factors responsible for poor reportage of rape and sexual assault cases among student of higher institutions
2. ii) To ascertain if there is any relationship between indecent dressing, alcohol, cultism and rape/sexual assault amongs university student

iii) To examine the role of the institution management in combating rape and sexual assault cases in higher institutions

1. iv) To proffer suggested solutions in ameliorating this menace in our institutions

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

To aid the completion of this study, the following research questions were formulated by the researcher;

1. i) Are there factors affecting poor reportage of rape cases among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria?
2. ii) Is there any significant relationship between indecent dressing, alcohol, cultism and rape/sexual assault among university student?

iii) Does institution management play any role in combating rape and sexual assault cases in higher institutions?

1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

H₀: There is no significant relationship between indecent dressing, alcohol, cultism and rape/sexual assault among university student

H₁: There is a significant relationship between indecent dressing, alcohol, cultism and rape/sexual assault among university student

H₀: There are no factors affecting poor reportage of rape cases among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria

H₂: There are factors affecting poor reportage of rape cases among students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to rape victims as the study seek to explore the constrain and factors that militate against poor reportage and punishment of the perpetrators of this sacrilege and man inhumanity, the study will also be useful to the school counselors as the study seek to examine the psychological, emotional and academic consequence of rape on the victim. The study will also be of great importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the study will serve as a reference point to further research. Finally, the study will be of great importance to academia’s students, teachers and the general public as the study will contribute to the pool of existing literature and also contribute to knowledge on the subject matter.

1.7 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the factors affecting rape cases among student in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, with emphasis on student of university of Ibadan, but in the course of the study, there are some factors that limit the scope of the study;

Respondents were afraid to report their sexual coercion experience for fear of the consequences which include shame and guilt until the researcher convinced them. Nevertheless, this does not in any way affect the reliability of the result of the study

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

 

Rape

Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without that person’s consent.

Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another. When force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault

Sexual assault

Sexual assault is an act in which a person intentionally sexually touches another person without that person’s consent, or coerces or physically forces a person to engage in a sexual act against their will

Tertiary institution

Tertiary is education beyond the secondary level, especially education at the college or university level

 

Cultist

A member of an unorthodox cult who generally lives outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic leader

Cultism

Devotion to the doctrine or a cult or to the practices of a cult. devotion – commitment to some purpose; “the devotion of his time and wealth to science

Rapist

A person who rapes someone a person who commits rapea convicted rapist

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study

 

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