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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.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s10900-017-0354-3

Type

Journal

Journal of community health

Publication Date

10/2017

Volume

42

Pages

1035 - 1043

Addresses

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. naidoos71@ukzn.ac.za.

Keywords

Humans, Prevalence, Risk Factors, Rape, Students, Adolescent, South Africa, Female, Male, Black People