Experiences and Attitudes Towards Sexual Harassment Among Hawkers Residing in Ede Township in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

BACKGROUND Peddling through the streets in developing countries is another area of interest the researchers will love to explore due to the socio-economic and negative health effects that can results from this by those who involved in it. This includes sexual assault which increases the vulnerability of the hawkers to diseases such as HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, increased risk of unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to gain an understanding on the experiences and attitudes towards sexual harassment among hawkers residing in Ede Township in Osun State, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: The study population comprises of hawkers in Ede Township in Ede, Osun State. Fifty respondents were reached through questionnaire titled Experiences and Attitudes towards Sexual Harassment among Hawkers Residing in Ede Township in Osun State, Nigeria. Quantitative research method was applied for data collection. 17 items questionnaire containing 3 segments was used for data collection and SPSS version 23 was used for analysis of data. RESULTS The result revealed that 21 (42%) were between the age of 16–20 years, 38 (76%) were females, 42 (84%) were Islam, 49 (98%) were Yoruba of which 39 (78%) were single. Also, 37 (74%) were students, 43 (86%) had secondary school education 14 (28%) earned 1,000–1,900 and 2,000–2,900 per day as income. 16 (32%) responded that sometimes has anyone made gesture or body language of a sexual nature to them, 45 (90%) strongly disagree that they are comfortable with people of opposite sex touching their buttocks without their consent and 44 (88%) strongly disagree that they are comfortable with people of opposite sex touching their waist without their consent. CONCLUSION In conclusion, street hawking is a variant and a very visible phenomenon in our society. It is largely due to poverty and underdevelopment. The hawkers are exposed to many risks of which sexual abuse is a prominent component. The government needs to vigorously pursue poverty alleviation measures to improve the general socio-economic status of majority of the population. There are needs to give sex education to all young people with emphasis on risk reduction measures.