Predictors of rape in the Central African Republic

This is a study of women in the Central African Republic (CAR) whose first sexual encounter was the result of rape. The analyses presented here are based on a national HIV/AIDS survey conducted in 1989. Respondents were selected through multistage cluster sampling, where census districts and households within districts were randomly selected. A total of 1307 females responded to the question regarding the circumstances of their first intercourse. Nearly 22% of female respondents reported that their first experience with intercourse was rape. Bivariate analyses found that rape during first intercourse was significantly related to the following respondent characteristics at the time of the survey: age, marital status, having a child, education, occupation, urban versus rural living, ethnic group, age at first date, and consumption of alcohol. Rape was not significantly related to ability to read, religion, and years in current village or town. Rape during first intercourse was found in a stepwise logistic regression to be related to age, marital status, occupation, and ethnic group. These data indicate that the incidence of rape is higher than previously reported in Africa, there are specific risk factors, and there are serious negative consequences.