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Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Forced-Sex Among South African High School Students

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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.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the South African Medical Research Council through the “Self-Initiated Grant” program. The authors would like to acknowledge the South African Medical Research Council for funding this project; the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education for permitting the study; the Principals, teachers and students for supporting and participating in the study. We also acknowledge N Dlamini, Z Khanyile, S Mpanza, M Ngcongo for facilitating the field work on this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 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

    Saloshni Naidoo, Benn Sartorius & Myra Taylor

  2. Department of Health Organisation, Policy and Economics Management, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Hein de Vries

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  1. Saloshni Naidoo
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Correspondence to Saloshni Naidoo.

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Naidoo, S., Sartorius, B., de Vries, H. et al. Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Forced-Sex Among South African High School Students. J Community Health 42, 1035–1043 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-017-0354-3

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