Youths and non-consensual sex: exploring the experiences of rape and attempted rape survivors in a tertiary institution in Ibadan, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Non-consensual Sex (NCS) is a worldwide problem with far reaching effects on the survivors. This study explored the experiences of rape and attempted rape (AR) survivors in a tertiary institution in Nigeria.
METHODS: In-depth interviews with fourteen survivors of rape and AR were used to explore the context of experience of NCS, its consequences and help-seeking. Interviewees consisted two males and five females for each form of NCS who were identified during the quantitative aspect of the study. Interviews were subjected to content analysis.
RESULTS: Mean age of the respondents was 22.3±2.5 years. Context of non-consensual sexual experiences varied with sex. Female survivors reported use of physical violence on them by their perpetrators while males reported verbal threats, nudity, forceful hugging and kissing. Means of escape adopted by survivors of AR varied between the sexes. Female AR survivors used physical force as a means of escape while males employed deception/plea. Perpetrators were majorly acquaintances of the survivors. Consequences of the experiences reported include physical injuries and pregnancy among females and psychological disturbances among males. Majority, both males and females did not report, nor seek help due to shame and did not know appropriate methods of preventing future experience.
CONCLUSION: Although both males and females reported they have experienced rape and AR, the context of the experiences and consequences reported varied between both sexes and most did not know how to prevent future experience. This call for urgent development of gender sensitive sexual violence prevention programmes to address this phenomenon. FUNDING: The study received grant support from The Gates Institute, John Hopkins University Baltimore, USA through The Centre for Population and Reproductive Health, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Introduction

Non-consensual Sex (NCS) is a worldwide problem often rooted in long-standing societal norms.1 Definitions of NCS varies, complicating attempts to measure its overall prevalence or to compare its prevalence among various settings. However, all definitions rest on a common foundation: a lack of full and free choice in decisions to engage in sexual relations. Physical force or the threat of it can rob survivors of this choice. But intense psychological, emotional, and financial pressure or a fear of social consequences also can compel individuals to relinquish their right to resist unwanted sexual advances. While rape is one of the most extreme and immediately traumatic forms of NCS, other forms may have great health impact. Other forms of NCS include; attempted rape, unwanted touch or fondling /molestation, non-contact forms of NCS such as verbal harassment and forced viewing of pornography.2

However, this article focused on the most extreme forms; rape and attempted rape. The experience of forced sexual intercourse is a serious concern because it has far reaching consequences of the reproductive health of survivors including HIV infection.3 Also, women who have been sexually abused in childhood have greater propensity to participate in risky sexual activities as adolescents or adults thereby increasing the chances of exposure to violence.4 Studies5,6 have shown that all young people are at risk of experiencing NCS irrespective of their sex. While young female (unmarried and married) are most at risk, the evidence suggests that young males are also vulnerable to such experiences. For example, a study conducted in Ibadan, Nigeria among secondary school students showed that the overall lifetime prevalence of any type of NCS was 34.9%, this included 30.5% of males and 39.3% of females.7

A recent study; retrospective study of sexual assault victims in Lagos Nigeria also showed that rape survivors included both females (93.9%) and males (6.1%).8 Perpetrators of NCS varies depends on the settings where it occurs. Perpetrators of NCS may be a date, an acquaintance, a friend, a family member, an intimate partner or former intimate partner, or a complete stranger, but more often than not, is someone known to the survivor.8,9 Hence, rape by strangers is less common and also less likely to be repeated than forced sex by known perpetrators.1

Given the sensitivity surrounding NCS in general, and that perpetrated on young persons in particular, available evidence on NCS remains sparse, particularly in developing country settings. Consequently, several gaps exist in knowledge and understanding of the nature and extent in Nigeria, especially among students of tertiary institutions because majority of the few available studies were conducted among adolescents in secondary schools. We are not aware of any study that has documented the context of the experience of rape, studied males as survivors or gender differences in the situation surrounding the experience, hence the need for this study. Besides, previous effort made to involve male rape survivors in in-depth interview was abortive because not a single of them consented. 10,11

The current study documented the experiences of non-consensual sex among students in a tertiary institution in Ibadan, Nigeria which was carried out in two phases. The first phase, which is the qualitative aspect, already published elsewhere12 showed that out of the total respondents (594), 83 (14.0%) and 34 (5.7%) reported they had experienced attempted rape and rape respectively. This included 17 males and 66 females attempted rape survivors and 13 males and 21 female's rape survivors. The second phase of the research reported in this article explored the experience of rape and attempted rape survivors identified in the first phase. The help-seeking behaviours that followed these experiences and the consequences of it in the survivors' lives were also explored. It also highlighted the method employed by the attempted rape survivors in escaping from their perpetrators.

Methods

Settings for the study

This article describes the second phase of a cross-sectional study conducted among students of The Polytechnic Ibadan which explored their experiences of NCS. The institution; The Polytechnic Ibadan, being the first Technical Institute in Nigeria, was established in 1970.

The institution offers training in a wide range of specialized short courses not only for the purpose of improving the vocational competence of technical and commercial workers, but also to provide an opportunity for presenting the most recent advances in knowledge and in techniques to specialist groups.

The Polytechnic Ibadan has three campuses located in Ibadan, Eruwa and Saki, Oyo State, Nigeria. The Polytechnic of Ibadan runs mainly National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND). As at 2010 (2009/2010 academic session) when the study was conducted, the students' population in the institution was approximately 11,000 at Ibadan campus alone.

Research that took place before the study described in this article

The previous research was a quantitative study conducted among students of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Nigeria which involved 594 students who were selected from the four halls of residence in the institution. Respondents were asked questions on whether they had experienced any of the incidents from a list of forms of NCS which included unwanted touch of breast or back side, unwanted kiss, forced viewing of pornography, exchange of money, mark or gift for sex, attempted rape and rape. Results of this study have been published elsewhere.12

The current study: In-depth interview

The second phase of the study (reported in this article) was conducted among those who experienced rape and attempted rape identified during the first phase of this research. This second phase (qualitative aspect) consisted of in-depth interview (IDI) with 7 rape and 7 attempted rape survivors; two males and five females for each form of NCS. The instrument used was a pre-tested in-depth interview guide. The IDIs were conducted by the first author and trained research assistants using the IDI guide. Fourteen survivors of rape and it attempt (7 for each form of NCS) were randomly selected among those who indicated they have these forms of NCS during the first phase of the research. Females survivors were interviewed by the female research assistants. The IDI explored the context in which the incidents occurred, the help-seeking behaviour that followed and the consequences of the experience on survivors' lives. Respondents were also asked how they could prevent/avoid such occurrences in the near future. The IDI sessions were recorded on audio tapes and transcribed. Alongside, notes were also taken together with the audio tape recording. However comprehensive notes were taken for a male respondent who did not consent to the audio tape recording. The transcripts were subjected to content analysis.

Ethical Considerations

The study was approved by University of Ibadan/University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Ethics Review Committee (UI/EC/10/0074). Consent of the participants was sought on when and where the interviews were to be conducted to ensure absolute confidentiality. All the interviews were conducted immediately after the completion of the questionnaire except for a male who experienced rape which was conducted a week after.

Results

Socio-demographic Information, perpetrators and settings of the experience

Mean age of the respondents interviewed was 22.3 ± 2.5 years. Most perpetrators were persons known to the survivors and it included male friends for female survivors, and female friends for male survivors. Most of incidents occurred either at the survivor's or the perpetrators' residence. See Table 1 and 2 for summary data on attempted rape and rape respectively.

Table 1

Summary data on survivors of attempted rape

S/N	Sex/Age	Sex of the perpetrator and relationship with the survivor	Setting of the incident	Method of escape	Help-seeking behaviour
1	Male, 21 years	Female, Neighbour	Survivor's residence	Quickly left the room after pleading	Reported to the parents of the perpetrator
2	Male, 23 years	Female, Course mate	Perpetrator's residence	Deceived the perpetrator and left the room	Did not seek help
3	Female, 18 years	Male, Dad's friend	Survivors residence	screamed, neighbours came to rescue	Did not seek help
4	Female, 24 years	Male, Fiancé friend	Fiancé residence	Shouted on the perpetrators	Reported to the fiancé
5	Female, 25 years	Male, acquaintance	Perpetrator's residence	Bite the perpetrator deeply and also screamed.	Did not seek help
6	Female, 20 years	Male, friend's brother.	Lonely place	Bite the perpetrator and fought with him	Self-medication and treatment for bruises sustained. Reported only to a friend
7	Female, 24 years	Male, Brother's friend	Survivors residence	Crying, shouting, brother's rescue.	Reported to parents

Table 2

Summary data on survivors of rape

S/N	Sex/age	Sex of the perpetrator and relationship with the survivor	Setting of the incident	Method employed by the perpetrator	Help-seeking behaviour	Consequence
1	Male, 24 years old	Female, classmate	Perpetrator's residence	Deception	Consulted a spiritual father	Nightmares, psychologically disturbance.
2	Male, 24 years old	Female, neighbour	Survivors residence	Verbal intimidation, threat (nakedness)	Reported to sister; a nurse for medical check.	No consequence reported
3	Female, 20 years old	Male, family friend	Survivor's residence	Physical force	Did not seek help	Psychological disturbances, breakup the relationship
4	Female, 20 years old	Male, Lecturer	Perpetrator's office	Physical force, threat (verbal)	Did not report, visited a patent medicine seller	Psychological disturbances, pain, vagina bled
5	Female, 25 years old	Boy friend	Perpetrator's residence	Physical force	Did not seek help	Sadness, lost virginity, pregnancy, gave birth to a baby boy
6	Female, 25 years old	Boyfriend	Perpetrator's residence	Physical force	Did not seek help, but told a close friend	Lost virginity
7	Female, 19 years old	Boyfriend	Perpetrator's residence	Physical force	Did not seek help	Lost virginity, felt discouraged in having affairs with males

Context of rape and attempted rape

Narratives of interviewees suggested some common themes such that situational context in which rape or attempted rape occurred varied between the sexes. Firstly, female's survivors reported the use of physical violence on them by their perpetrators. Secondly, a male could succumb to female's threat for sex if he feels that she could implicate him in case he refused. Thirdly, rape has serious impacts on the survivors; this may be physical, psychological, spiritual or social (Table 2). Lastly, means of escape adopted by survivors of attempted rape varied between the sexes.

Female survivors reported more of physical violence than males

Most of the female survivors reported that their perpetrator used physical force on them, even some of them reported that both of them (survivor and perpetrator) engaged in physical battle during the incident. This is illustrated, for example in the story narrated by a 25-year-old female whom a friend (a male) to her boyfriend attempted to rape.

It happened that I went to a friend's (a male) house. Unfortunately, I did not meet him but I met a guy in his room. That was my first time of seeing the guy. He told me that my friend was not around. He said my friend has told him that should I wait for him when I come around. I waited there for about 2 hours. I waited that much because the guy persuaded me not to leave. He entertained me with a film which kept me so busy; I watched it till around 6:30pm. It was almost getting dark and I told him I wanted to leave, but he said I should still wait more. He later went out; by the time he came back, one thing I noticed was that he locked the door; that was when I suspected the guy. He suddenly jumped on me and wanted to have sex with me. I screamed and bite him deeply. Although people could not hear my voice because the sound the music he was playing was very loud but I later escaped.

Males however narrated their experiences in a different manner; they reported that their perpetrator (female) employed some forms of deceptions or threats including use of verbal words, nudity, hugging or kissing. This was illustrated, for example in the story narrated by Kola, 23 years' old whom a lady, a course mate attempted to rape on campus.

“I had a course mate who loved me and cared so much for me. I felt she has a kind of affection for me and wanted to make love with me. One day, she called me to come and play with her in her room, but I didn't go on that day. But I promised to pay her a visit on the following day. When I got there, she cooked some food, and after I ate, we started discussing about our past experiences. She talked about her ex-boyfriend on how the guy treated her. After some time, I was feeling sleepy and she said I could sleep on her bed. I later decided I wanted to go but she said I should play with her a little. She said she loved me, and she doesn't want to leave or lose me. Although I told her that if want to have any relationship with that I would propose to her.

She started removing her cloth, including her trousers in my presence and she said I should kiss her before I leave. She locked the door and started hugging and kissing me. I just dropped my phone and bag and told her that I wanted to “ease” myself. She said I was deceiving her that I wanted to leave stylishly. I made her to understand I would not go since I have already dropped my phone and bag. After getting outside, I told her that he should bring my phone and bag to the class. That was how I escaped. She later stopped playing with me.

Another survivor, a 21 years old male, also narrated his experience:

“It all happened about 6 months ago, in my house (off campus) when a lady; Seun, a daughter of my landlord attempted to rape me. She used to come to my room for academic help; I took her some courses in preparation for her Senior secondary school examination. I used to teach her Mathematics. One day she came to my room to appreciate me for helping her because she was very happy that she passed all the subjects she sat for. Although she has been coming to me several times before that particular day, when she comes around, she always wants me to be touching her sexually.

On that particular day, she brought along some beverages and wanted me to touch her sexually. Because I was not doing what she wanted, she said “are you a kid?” And I said I can't understand what she was saying. She quickly removed her cloth (because she putting on a night gown) and what remained was just ordinary pant. I pleaded with her not to force me into sex and I quickly left my room for her”

A male could succumb under a female's threat for fear of being implicated as the perpetrator

This was evident in a respondents' narrative; he was a 24 years old boy raped by a neighbour (girl). His story also suggests that someone who had once experienced rape may subsequently give in to sex easily when threatened by a perpetrator. In his narration, he said sexual intercourse was not new to him because he was deflowered by a girl in a night party during his first year in Senior Secondary School (SSS1). His narrative is as follows;

It happened sometimes times ago when I travelled to Lagos, I stayed in my Aunt's place. There was a girl there staying in the same compound with my sister. Most of the time, she used to come around into our own apartment. She always does somehow to me, for example she may lie on me on the rug when nobody was around. When I asked her why she liked to do such to me, she said it was just normal greetings. She also said she would like to hug me all the time.

One day, she told me she wanted something ‘stronger’ than what they we were having then ... our relationship. She said she wished am her boyfriend and that she was in love with me. She came to our house one day, although my sister was at the backyard. I was in the room, so she came directly into the room to meet but I did not know that anybody entered. She started some unnecessary talk that she has been feeling somehow since morning. She said she felt like having sex. I asked her that with whom she wanted to have the sex and besides, I said “don't you have a boyfriend?”

She said she would shout if do not have sex with her. She said she would tell people that I wanted to forcefully have sex with her. She got naked and met me on the bed. She said she would implicate me if I did anything funny. I told her to go out to a brothel if she must have sex. She shouted “EGBA MI” (rescue me). I was afraid because if my sister could hear her voice, she would have thought I was the one who wanted have sex with her by force and she would report me to my mother. She said “OYA” (let's start). I later decided it is better to have sex with her rather to be implicated. Also, sexual intercourse is not a new thing to me because I was deflowered by a girl in a night party when I was in SSS1.

Negative impacts of rape on the survivors varied with sex

Female survivors reported more of physical injury such as virginity loss, bruises, bleeding while male reported more of psychological disturbances including nightmares. These are evident in the following narratives:

“It happened that day; it was last year November. Ever before then, he; our Geology lecturer always disturb me. He said he liked me and that I should come and see him in his office. He came to class one day to collect the assignment he gave to us. He refused to collect my own; he said I should bring it to his office. I never expect what happened; I thought he would just be disturbing me so that I can be going out with him. When I got to his office, he stood up and to lock the door. I asked him why? He said that I should sleep with him that day. He said it is either that day or never. I started begging him but I did not see any sign in his face that he would accept my plea, I shouted but nobody was around to hear me. He said if I should continue to shout that he would kill me. He held me and started removing my blouse, he removed my trouser and I kept begging him and after that he forced himself into me.

Immediately after the incident, I felt bad although that was not the first time I would have sex but this one was highly painful. He gave me small towel to clean myself because blood was coming out and forced me to lie down in his office till evening until he later told me to leave. … by a female 20 years old, raped by her Geology lecturer in the office.

“I did not feel happy immediately after the incident because it was not my intention that we should have sex. I had bad dreams for a long period of time and it also affected me psychologically because I always wanted to see her alone, no other lady again”

… a male interviewee (24 years old) who experienced rape.

Method adopted to escape from rape varied with sex

Almost all the female survivors reported that they screamed, shouted or even got to the extent of biting the perpetrator before they could escape the incident. This is illustrated as a female respondent put it:

“I woke up and screamed, my neighbour heard my voice and came to my rescue”

Another respondent (female) also said;

“I bite him deeply; I think it was the bite that actually calmed him down”

However, males reported means of escape were totally different; they only devised means of leaving the scene through deception or plea. This is illustrated as a respondent put it:

“… I just dropped my phone and bag and told her that I wanted to “ease” myself. She said I was deceiving her that I wanted to leave stylishly. I made her to understand I would not go since I have already dropped my phone and bag. After getting outside, I told her that he should bring my phone and bag to the class and that was how I escaped”

Help-seeking behaviour

In-depth interviews also explored the extent to which rape and attempted rape survivors sought help/reported the incident. Findings from this study showed that helpseeking was a rare practice. Out of the female rape survivors, only one person sought help among them. The help she sought was not appropriate because she only visited a patent medicine seller to get emergency contraception despite she reported that she knew well that she was not safe. She only protected herself from unintended pregnancy. She said:

“After the incident, I went to chemist to buy Postinor (emergency contraception); because I knew I was not safe; that was all I did”

Likewise, only one of the two male rape survivors interviewed sought medical help, the second person later sought spiritual help because he was having nightmares. He said:

“I later went to a spiritual father who prayed for me after which those things (bad dreams and psychological disturbances) later stopped”

The main reason why survivors of rape did not report the incident or seek help was the shame associated with the incident and the fear of disclosure of their secret to others, although they may also have informed peers who did not have appropriate solutions to their problems. One of the survivors said she could not tell her father but only asked him some ‘indirect questions’; she said:

“I only told my friend all that happened but I later went to my father to asked some questions indirectly”

Among those who experienced attempted rape, three of the seven survivors did not seek help nor report the incident to anybody. One of them said in her narrative;

“I did not seek any help; I can tell you that this is the first time I am narrating this story”

Suggested methods of prevention of further experience of NCS by the survivors

Survivors of rape and attempted rape were asked how they could possibly prevent such occurrences in the near future. One of the two male rape survivors said he did not think he could prevent it while the second person made mention that he would leave the scene as soon as he noticed that such a thing may happen to him. Among the five female rape survivors, two of them made mention of being careful with men. One of them said:

“One should stop seeing guys or boyfriend in secret or hidden places”

However, two of them said they did not know and the last person reported arming herself against possible rape in the future.

“I always carry a small knife inside my pocket that anytime he tries such with me, I will stab him. That is the best prevention I know for now”

Among the male attempted rape survivors, the method reported to prevent further occurrence of the incident was limitation of relationship with ladies. Among the females, two of them could not give any preventive method while the other three made mention of being careful with males. One of them said:

“I need not to trust anybody and should not follow guys to any secret or hidden place”

Another person said:

“I need to be very careful of whom I associate myself with and before going to visit a guy, I must be very sure the type of person he is”

Discussion

Contrary to the general belief that only females could experience NCS, this study has established the fact that both males and female do experience NCS. This is consistent with similar studies.6,10 Findings from this research showed that gender differences occur in the context in which rape and attempted rape occur. It also showed gender disparities in the situations surrounding the occurrence of non-consensual sexual experiences with the females likely to report the more violent aspects while males reported verbal threats, nudity, unsolicited hugging or kissing and undressing from their female perpetrator. Gender differences also occurred in the types of perpetrators reported.

The leading perpetrator among females were male friends while among males, perpetrators were predominantly their female friends. This is consistent with a Kenyan study by Erulkar13 in which most of the perpetrators were intimate partners including boyfriends, girlfriends and husbands. The current study reflects the findings from a study conducted among adolescents in urban India in which the most commonly reported perpetrators of NCS were females for friends for boys, however most female did not know their perpetrators unlike the current study in which perpetrators of the females were well known to their survivors.9Findings from this study also corroborate some previous studies which showed that authority figures were involved in the perpetration of NCS.8,10,14 For example, a qualitative study conducted in Nigeria by Ajuwon10 showed that one of the eight rape survivors interviewed reported being raped by her instructor in Koran school. In addition, gender difference was also evident on the reported method used by perpetrators. Although several factors such as alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking have been shown to contribute to the experience of NCS7,12, the current study suggests that individual who had been sexually abused in childhood may subsequently participate in non-consensual sexual or risky sexual activities. One of the interviewee said that he later gave in to the threat from his perpetrator (a female) because sexual intercourse was not new to him. He reported his first sexual experience was a rape perpetrated by a lady in a party.

Rape has been linked to a host of health-related consequences which are profound with short and long term consequences. These include unwanted pregnancy and the potential complications such as sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, suicidal thoughts and depression. In women, rape can cause trauma to the vaginal wall that allows easier access to HIV and other diseases. The risk of transmission is likely to be higher in girls and young women, because girls' vaginal tracts are immature and tear easily during sexual intercourse. Other health consequences include depression and abuse of alcohol and other drugs.10,14,15,16Consequences of rape and attempted rape uncovered in the current study include psychological and physical consequences such as virginity loss, vaginal bleed, nightmares, sadness, bruises and unwanted pregnancy and consequently unwanted childbirth.

Help seeking was a rare practice among the five females rape survivors interviewed, only one sought help. This is consistent with findings of a study conducted among adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria which show that only one out eight rape survivors reported the incident.7 Rape survivors, especially females likely not seek help or redress so as to prevent stigmatization and shame.7 Threat of social stigma prevents young people from speaking out about rape and abuse. Related to this are fear of reprisal and deep-rooted unequal gender norms.17 Hence, survivors of NCS would rather suffer in silence instead of seeking appropriate help by reporting to the appropriate authorities such as school authorities on campus, police station and health care centre.

The fact that many of the survivors could not give appropriate methods to avoid further non-consensual sexual experience suggests a gap in knowledge on NCS preventive measures among these students. Many said they did not know how they could prevent it. Although a few (females) made mention of being careful with males, however one of them reported that she was carrying a knife around the campus in case her perpetrator (Lecturer) makes any attempt to repeat the rape in future. These findings serve as evidence for urgent interventions among the target population.

Programme implications

Findings from this study serve as evidence for development of sexual violence prevention programmes among the target population and students of all tertiary institutions targeting both sexes. Doing this will also empower potential perpetrators to desist from such acts. Proposed programmes for interventions include public enlightenment on the prevalence and consequences of the experiences of NCS. Students need to be well aware about the potential situations that may lead to rape. Such signs included nudity and unsolicited intimate gestures especially by female perpetrators including hugging and kissing.

Also, students are to be well informed on how and where to report when they experience or see any sign of impending rape occurrence or the actual experience especially when it comes to the issue of lecturers being the perpetrator, thus preventing survivors from suffering in silence. The school authorities in partnership with governmental and non-governmental agencies need to develop health promotion and education promotion programmes to tackle this problem among students of higher learning. This programme should be very comprehensive so as to address factors at all the levels that influence nonconsensual sexual experience - individual, relationship, community, and society. This will surely reduce the incidents of such experiences.

Conclusion

Both males and females experienced rape and attempted rape, although with some forms of gender disparity in the context of the experience and means of escape by attempted rape survivors. Survivors either did not help or appropriate help and most did not know how to prevent future related experience. As such, this underscores the need to develop gender sensitive sexual violence prevention programmes to address this phenomenon among the target population.