Prevalence and management of child sexual abuse cases presented at Nigerian hospitals: A systematic review
Journal Title: Journal of Health and Social Sciences - Year 2018, Vol 3, Issue 2
Abstract
Introduction: Aim of this study was to review all suspected sexual abuse (SA) cases presenting at Nigerian hospitals, in order to examine both the prevalence of child sexual abuses (CSA) cases and the availability of hospital protocols and medical and forensic services for their evaluation, management and follow-up. Methods: A systematic review of literature including only studies published in English from 2006 to 2016 and cited in the Medline, Scopus and Web of Science databases was carried out. Results: A total of 16 hospital-based studies were included. Out of the total of 166,985 suspected SA cases presented at hospitals, only 1,553 (0.93%) of them were confirmed. Most of them (n = 1,164, 74.95%) occurred in children (< 18 years) and majority of the CSA victims were female (n = 1,155, 99.23%). HIV screening (n = 13, 81.25%) and vaginal swab (n = 8, 50%) were the most common investigations carried out by clinicians, whereas the most common medical treatments offered by the health facilities were emergency contraceptives (n = 8, 50%) and HIV post exposure prophylaxis (n = 7, 43.75%), with only a quarter of the cases (n = 4, 25%) offering any form of psychological counseling to victims and/or their parents. Written protocol for CSA evaluation and management was absent in nearly all of the health facilities. Conclusions: In Nigeria, healthcare and forensic management of CSA are poor, probably due to late presentation of victims at the hospital and to negligence on the part of health and security personnel. CSA is also possibly under-reported, with serious implications for the child and society. Prevention, proper medical treatment, management and follow-up for victims and their families, as well as making the perpetrators answerable for their crimes are highly recommended measures to tackle this issue.
Authors and Affiliations
Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Akin-Odanye
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP369874
- DOI 10.19204/2018/prvl2
- Views 137
- Downloads 0
Avoiding the apocalypse: a call for global action
According to an authoritative report published at the beginning of the 21th century, in the coming century the countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will have to face the real ris...
Role and sensitivity of Positron Emission Tomography with [18F] Fluorodeoxyglucose in diagnosis and follow-up of patients affected by chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA)
Introduction: PET/CT is considered as a powerful tool to diagnose, stage, and monitor patients with a variety of diseases. In this study, we assessed the sensitivity and the degree of agreement between 18F-FDG PET/CT and...
The key role of government national planning around the world for antimicrobial resistance: State of the art and perspectives
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is ‘the ability of microorganisms to grow in the presence of a chemical (drug) that would normally kill them or limit their growth’ [1]. As a result, infections persist in the body, killing...
Health effects of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS): A study among federal civil servants in Bayelsa State, Nigeria
Introduction: This study aimed to analyze the level of satisfaction and health effects of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) among federal civil servants employed in Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria. Methods: A c...
Prevalence and economic costs of diarrheal illness among adult slum dwellers in Khulna City, Bangladesh
Introduction: The aim of this research was to determine prevalence, determinants and economic costs of diarrheal illness among adult slum dwellers in Khulna City, Bangladesh. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in...