Paper Title
KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE TOWARDS RAPE AND CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE: A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN RURAL JIGAWA STATE

Abstract
Violence against women and children is globally recognized as a social and human rights concern. In Nigeria, sexual violence towards women and children is a problem highest magnitude. The aim of this study was to determine community knowledge of and attitudes towards rape and child sexual abuse, and assess associations between knowledge and attitudes. A cross-sectional study was undertaken between January and July 2024 in Jigawa State. The study uses secondary data on attitudes about gender roles and violence, and knowledge on health consequences of rape. Data were obtained from concluded court cases and reports from newspapers. The obtained data were contextually analyzed. The main outcome measures were knowledge of and attitudes towards sexual violence and child abuse. On the knowledge of rape, the study discovered that rural residents in Jigawa state have limited awareness of the legal definitions and ramifications of rape, and that myths and misconceptions surrounding rape prevail in rural areas. On the attitude towards rape, traditional gender roles and patriarchal structures profoundly influence attitudes toward rape, and that victim-blaming is a prevalent attitude in rural Jigawa state, lastly there is also culture of silence on issues that has to do rape in rural Jigawa state. The study recommends that Non-Government Organization should start Rape Crisis Centre, and that the parents and girls should educated on the issues of rape. Keywords - Attitudes, Child Sexual Abuse, Education, Knowledge, Prevention, Rape, Survivor Support, Victim-Blaming