Perpetrators of Sexual Violence against Minors in Casamance (Senegal) ()
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The
causes of sexual delinquency against children are multifactorial and the
motivations that drive the perpetrators of sexual assault are diverse.
Nowadays, there is still no consensus on a single portrait of child sex
offenders and studies that focus on sex offenders are still rare in Senegal and
Africa. Objectives: To determine the profile of the perpetrators and to identify the
circumstances of sexual violence against minors in Casamance. Materials and Methods: A retrospective descriptive and analytical study
from April 1, 2014 to October 31, 2019 was conducted. The study
population was made up of perpetrators of sexual violence against minors whose
legal proceedings were dealt with at the Ziguinchor High Court. The data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet and then analyzed
using Epi InfoTM 7 software. Results: A total of 106 cases of
sexual violence against minors were collected for 113 aggressors and 106
victims. Rape accounted for 66.03% of sexual violence. Male aggressors were
98.23%. Female victims accounted for 95.28%. The average age of the attackers
was 32.52 years (±13.68). Offenders over the age of 35 committed the most rape
(p = 0.043). The average age of the victims was 12.62 years (±3.42). Victims
aged ten and over (p = 0.015) and who had a low level of education (p = 0.016)
were more exposed to rape. The assault took place during the day (65.71%) and
at the home of the aggressor (62.26%). Victims knew their attackers (84.47%).
Victims were assaulted more than once by the
same assailant (40.57%). Those aged 10 years and over (p = 0.0037) and
who knew their attackers (p = 0.014) were more at risk of being repeatedly
sexually abused. Conclusion: In Senegal, sexual violence against minors
is perpetrated by young adult men, single, with little or no education and
exercising low-income professions. Rape is the type of aggression preferred by
perpetrators, most of whom were known to their victims. The policy to fight
sexual violence against children must integrate sex education at school and community level, public awareness, monitoring of
child sex offenders and possibly, their medico-psychological care.
Share and Cite:
Koundoul, A. , Diagne, I. , Sambou, B. , Wone, I. , Ba, E. , Seck, S. and Faye, P. (2023) Perpetrators of Sexual Violence against Minors in Casamance (Senegal).
Open Journal of Psychiatry,
13, 33-44. doi:
10.4236/ojpsych.2023.131005.
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