Magnitude of female child sexual abuse in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Child sexual abuse is a grave issue with significant consequences for the well-being and development of children worldwide. Understanding the scope of this problem is essential, particularly in Ethiopia, where protecting the nation's youth is crucial. Although child sexual abuse is a critical issue, there is a lack of comprehensive assessment of its prevalence and associated factors in Ethiopia. This study aims to fill this gap by conducting a meta-analysis and systematic review to explore the current prevalence and contributing factors of female child sexual abuse in Ethiopia.

METHODS

This study followed the PRISMA checklist, focusing on Ethiopian studies. Nine relevant studies were identified from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, and the Cochrane Library for the final meta-analysis and systematic review. The analysis was performed with STATA version 11, utilizing a structured checklist for data extraction. To assess heterogeneity, the Cochrane Q test statistic and I tests were employed. To check for publication bias, Egger's weighted regression, Begg's test, and a funnel plot were utilized.

RESULTS

A total of 1230 research articles were initially identified for this systematic review and meta-analysis. After screening, nine studies met the eligibility criteria, with a combined sample size of 3930 children across all studies. The pooled prevalence of child sexual abuse among female students was 36.83 % [95 % CI: 24.35-49.32]. This meta-analysis identified several factors significantly associated with child sexual abuse: children living alone (OR = 4.45, 95 % CI: 2.65-7.46), living with friends (OR = 3.49, 95 % CI: 2.35-5.18), alcohol consumption (OR = 2.72, 95 % CI: 1.70-4.35), cigarette smoking (OR = 3.83, 95 % CI: 1.66-8.83), parental conflicts (OR = 2.50, 95 % CI: 1.43-4.36), lack of open discussion about reproductive health (OR = 3.44, 95 % CI: 1.84-6.42), and family control practices (OR = 1.92, 95 % CI: 1.16-3.17).

CONCLUSION

The pooled prevalence of child sexual abuse among female students (36.83 %) highlights a critical need for focused preventive efforts. Key risk factors identified include living alone or with friends, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, parental conflicts, limited reproductive health discussions, and controlling family practices. Addressing these through community education, family support, and open communication on reproductive health could help reduce abuse risk among vulnerable groups.