Determinants of gender-based violence in public secondary schools in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated determinants of gender-based violence in public secondary schools in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. The research design used was a survey design. A sample size of one hundred and fifty (150) participants within the age range of 14-25 years of which 143 met the inclusion criteria, with 7 of the participants being excluded due to wrong and incomplete data. The study revealed that the forms of gender-based violence in selected public secondary schools in Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State were child sexual violence with a mean score of 3.01, dating violence 2.90, virginity testing 2.59, rape 3.01, emotional violence 2.97 and economic violence 2.66. The main perpetrators of the form of gender-based violence in the selected public secondary schools in Obio/Akpor Local Government of Rivers State were boys with a mean score of 3.18. The yielded p-value of 0.88 using one-factor ANOVA, indicates that there is no significant difference between the genders in terms of perpetrating gender-based violence in the public secondary schools in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, as the p-value is greater than 0.05. The study recommended the development and enforcement of clear anti-violence policies, including robust reporting mechanisms and support services for victims, to create a safer school environment. Integrate educational initiatives that foster gender equality and respect into the curriculum and extracurricular activities, nurturing a culture of mutual respect among students.