Citation

Naidoo S, Sartorius B, de Vries H, Taylor M. J. Community Health 2017; 42(5): 1035-1043.

Affiliation

Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Room 274, 2nd Floor, George Campbell Building, Howard Campus, Durban, 4013, South Africa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10900-017-0354-3

PMID

28508138

Abstract

Sexual violence, a global concern, has far reaching consequences for individuals and communities. This survey of South African high school students, reported baseline prevalence and factors associated with forced sex. Data collected among 434 adolescents (54.4% boys; 45.6% girls) used a questionnaire developed using the I-Change Model conceptual framework. Forced sex prevalence was 14.2% (95% CI 9.1, 21.5) with a non-significant difference between females (15.0%) and males (13.6%) (p = 0.781). After multivariable adjustment, urban location (39%), low socio-economic status (15%) and discordant mother/father vital status (20%) remained significant risk factors for forced sex. South African high school students are still at risk of experiencing forced sex with a higher prevalence in females. Interventions to address socio-economic and structural constructs contributing to the forced sex prevalence in this population are required.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Gender; Socioeconomics; Violence