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Trafficking in women and children: A hidden health and
social problem in Nigeria
S. Abdulraheem* and A. R.
Oladipo
Department of
Epidemiology and Community Health,
College of
Medicine,
University of
Ilorin, Ilorin,
Kwara State,
Nigeria.
*Corresponding
author.
E-mail:
ibroraheem@yahoo.com.
Accepted 8 February, 2010 |
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Trafficking in
women and children recently emerged as a global issue. This
study assessed the pattern of trafficking in women and
children and factors influencing it. Quantitative and
qualitative study designs were used. Women and children aged
15 - 49 and 10 - 14 years respectively constituted the study
population. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used
to select sample. Quantitative and qualitative methods were
adopted. Among the interviewed women, 16.8% had experienced
trafficking preceding the survey. The most frequent type of
trafficking was commercial sex (46.7%) followed by child
labour (34.5%). Educated and enlightened people (57.3%)
appeared to be the main perpetrators of women and child
trafficking followed by intimate/close associate (32.1%).
Contributing factors for trafficking in women and children
in this study are poverty (58.7%),
parental
discrimination favoring boys over girls (51.4%), lack of
knowledge of human slavery and trafficking (33.6%) and
family disintegration (21.5%) increase in school dropouts,
lack of
governments' monitoring of trade working environment and
poor
socio-economic conditions appeared to be significantly
associated with trafficking in women and children (p <
0.05).
This study therefore suggests that human trafficking could
be tackled by, enacting a comprehensive law that specifies
severe punishment for traffickers, rehabilitate victim and
increasing security at border posts.
Key words:
Trafficking, women, children, problem, Nigeria. |
