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Sexual abuse among female high school students in Istanbul, Turkey.

Authors :: Alikasifoglu M
Erginoz E
Ercan O
Albayrak-Kaymak D
Uysal O
Ilter O
Source :: Child abuse & neglect [Child Abuse Negl] 2006 Mar; Vol. 30 (3), pp. 247-55. Date of Electronic Publication: 2006 Mar 07.
Publication Year :: 2006
Abstract: Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of sexual abuse in female adolescents in Istanbul, Turkey from data collected as part of a school-based population study on health and health behaviors.<br />Method: A stratified cluster sampling procedure was used for this cross-sectional study. The study sample included 1,955 randomly selected 9th through 11th grade female students attending 26 randomly-selected high schools in Istanbul. A self-report questionnaire was administered anonymously in the classroom. Information on sexual abuse history was collected through the questions investigating "touching" and "intercourse."<br />Results: Of 1,955 female students, 1,871 (95.7%) provided answers to the questions addressing unwanted sexual experience. Of these, 250 (13.4%) reported sexually abusive experiences. Two hundred and thirteen (11.3%) students reported that someone touched their private parts in a way they did not like; 91 (4.9%) reported they were forced to have sexual intercourse; 54 (3.0%) reported both types of sexual abuse. Incest was reported by 1.8% of the subjects. Ninety-three percent of the perpetrators were reported to be male.<br />Conclusions: This is the first reported school-based study to determine the prevalence of sexual abuse in Turkey. The results show that at least 13.4% of female high school students disclosed having experienced sexual abuse during childhood.