Sexual violence victimisation among deaf adolescents: A multi-school-based cross-sectional study from Ghana

Deaf adolescents and other young people with sensory disabilities are at elevated risk of sexual violence victimisation. However, there is scant published evidence on the epidemiology of sexual violence victimisation among deaf adolescents from African countries, including Ghana.

To describe the 12-month prevalence and associated factors of sexual violence victimisation among school-going deaf adolescents in Ghana.

This is a cross-sectional self-report survey involving a nationally representative sample of 422 school-going deaf adolescents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the sociodemographic, personal-level, family-related, school-based, and interpersonal-level factors associated with sexual violence victimisation.

The 12-month prevalence estimate of sexual violence victimisation was 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.0-21.3%). Comparable estimates were found between females (16.6%; 95%CI = 11.3-23.0%) and males (17.9%; 95%CI = 13.6-23.0%). Deaf adolescents from polygynous families, those who did paid work, those having a single-parent caretaker, those whose primary caretakers were unemployed, and those in romantic relationships were at increased odds of sexual violence victimisation. Family-related factors such as parental divorce, and conflict with parents were also associated with increased odds of sexual violence victimisation. No (putative protective) factors were identified to be associated with reduced odds of sexual violence victimisation.

The prevalence estimates and associated factors of sexual violence victimisation among school-going deaf adolescents in the current study are comparable to what is known about in-school hearing adolescents in Ghana. The evidence highlights the need to strengthen preventive efforts against the offence in both deaf and hearing adolescents.