Abstract
Rape remains a controversial issue with a few victims reporting experience because of the myriad of societal perception, prolonged steps in pursuing a case to logical conclusion of securing conviction, as well as psychological and physical residuals of the experience. Data in Nigeria is therefore hard to come by as it is diminished and often not available. To assess the pattern and trend of rape cases in a State in Nigeria. A descriptive and retrospective study where data records on socio-demographics and case specifics was collected on victims of sexual assault that reported to DFID/ PATHS 2 supported Tamar Sexual Assault Centre between 2014 and 2016 after which it was analysed and presented in bar charts. The yearly prevalence varied for the different age groups studied with the highest prevalence noted for 13 years and above (175,200,255) over the 3 years of 2014, 2015 and 2016 studied. The reported cases also improved over the studied years with rates of 0.47, 0.96 and 0.5 respectively. The yearly comparison and baseline data show that the centre's establishment caused an improvement in rape case reporting and follow-up.
Highlights
This paper aims to estimate the trend of rape in the Nigerian state of Enugu
Victims of rape that presented at the Tamar Sexual Assault Centre (TSAC) between 2014 and 2016 were studied regards their socio-demographics, experience, pathway of their cases and conclusion of cases and subsequently analysed and presented in bar charts
Data collection Entries were made on various vital and necessary socio-demographics and other vital information of the victims like age, sex, area of residence, types of incidence those victims that received treatment, those with Forensic Medi-Results Figure 1 reflects that ages 13 years and above present most cases of rape in all the years assessed, followed closely by the age bracket 6 to 12 years
Summary
It has far reaching physical, psychological, social and otherwise effect on the victims which is longstanding.[1] Rape is defined medically as unlawful sexual activity and usually sexual intercourse carried out forcibly or under threat of injury against the will usually of a female or with a person who is beneath a certain age or incapable of valid consent.[2] In most African societies, women are not in a position to control their sexual lives because of their poor socio-economic status. Objectives: To assess the pattern and trend of rape cases in a State in Nigeria. Conclusion: The yearly comparison and baseline data show that the centre's establishment caused an improvement in rape case reporting and follow-up. Trends in rape cases in a Nigerian state. Afri Health Sci. 2020; 20(2): 668-675. https://doi
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