Physical, Social and Psychological Effects of Rape on Health of Underage School Girls in Ilorin Metropolis
Abstract
Universally, rape is considered to be an immoral act which is not peculiar to any nation, race, or gender. Rape is a criminal offence, an act of forcible sexual relations with a person against that person’s will. This study assessed physical, social and psychological effects of rape on health and security of underage school girls In Ilorin metropolis. A descriptive research of survey type was used. The population were all members of staff of Kwara state Ministry of Women affairs and Kwara State Ministry of Social Welfare and Developments. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to select 50 staff from each of the 2 ministries selected making a total of 100 respondents. A researcher designed questionnaire’ was validated by three experts in related fields. The reliability of the questionnaire was ascertained through test re-test method of 2 weeks interval using Pearson product moment correlation, co-efficient of 0.78r was obtained. The questionnaire was administered by the researchers and some trained research assistants. Descriptive statistics of frequency count and inferential statistics of Chi-Square were used to test the hypotheses postulated for the study at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that: rape has a significant physical effect on health of underage school girls (calc. X2 =39.54 > crit value 16.92): rape has a significant social effect on health of underage school girls (cal value =34.47 > crit X2 16.92): and rape has a significant psychological effect on health of underage school girls (calc X2= 28.01 > crit value 16.92). The study concluded that there are physical, social, psychological effects of rape on health of underage school girls in Ilorin metropolis. It is therefore, recommended that adequate control of the use of drugs, proper education of youths on health, rape and security of life should be encouraged.
