Knowledge of Gender-Based Violence among Adolescents in Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the knowledge of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) among adolescents in secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. It used a socio-ecological framework to explore individual, relationship, community, and societal-level influences on GBV. A cross-sectional research design was employed. A sample of 723 adolescents was selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A semi-structured questionnaire was the data collection instrument. Knowledge of GBV was assessed by evaluating respondents' understanding of psychological and sexual violence, with "good knowledge" defined as correctly identifying at least 60% of items in both categories. Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 and Python 3, with chi-square and logistic regression, were applied to analyse data. Demographic data showed that the overall mean age was 15.4 years, with public school students predominantly aged 15-19 (87.2%) and private school students mostly aged 10-14 (45.5%). Female students were the respondents (64.3%). Knowledge of GBV was higher among private school students, with significant differences observed in coping mechanisms between public and private schools. The findings suggest that adolescents in private schools generally possess a higher level of knowledge of GBV, psychological violence, and sexual violence compared to their counterparts in public schools. The findings contribute valuable insights to the existing public health literature on adolescent GBV in Nigeria, supporting future policies and interventions to mitigate the public health crisis.