Disclosure pathways and correlates of child sexual abuse among secondary school adolescents in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Child sexual abuse (CSA) remains a major but underreported public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where sociocultural stigma, family dynamics, and weak institutional responses limit prevention and timely intervention. In northern Nigeria, empirical evidence particularly mixed-methods research remains scarce.

METHODS

A mixed-methods study was conducted among 350 secondary school adolescents recruited in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria, using stratified random sampling. Of the 350 recruited, 308 provided complete quantitative data and formed the analytic sample for prevalence and regression analyses. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing CSA experiences, sociodemographic factors, and disclosure patterns. Qualitative data were obtained through 25 in-depth interviews purposively selected from among adolescents who had reported CSA experiences in the survey, to explore perceptions, barriers to disclosure, and responses following abuse. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression, while qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis.

RESULTS

CSA was prevalent among participants (24.4%), with female adolescents exhibiting significantly higher odds of exposure compared to males (OR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.12-2.96). Adolescents from divorced or separated households were significantly more vulnerable (AOR = 6.12, 95% CI: 3.45-10.85, p < 0.001). Disclosure rates were low (37.3%), and qualitative findings revealed that disclosures were frequently met with disbelief, silence, or minimization, particularly when perpetrators were family members or authority figures.

CONCLUSION

CSA poses a substantial threat to adolescent wellbeing in Sokoto Metropolis, with gender and family instability playing critical roles in risk exposure and disclosure behavior. Persistent barriers to disclosure highlight systemic and cultural gaps in child protection mechanisms. Culturally sensitive, gender-responsive interventions that strengthen family support structures and improve institutional trust are urgently needed to reduce CSA and enhance survivor support.