Prevalence and nature of violence among young female hawkers in motor‐parks in south‐western Nigeria

A total of 345 young female hawkers (YFH) from six motor‐parks in south‐western Nigeria were interviewed to determine the nature and extent of violent acts against them – particularly sexual harassment, economic violence, forced marriage and involuntary withdrawal from school. Beatings or batterings and being sexually abused in childhood were reported. The most common perpetrators of the abuse were drivers or bus conductors and neighbours and these acts mostly occurred in the motor‐parks and at home. About a quarter had experienced attempted rape, while about one in 20 had actually been raped. The rapists were spouses and boyfriends. Most of the victims did not seek care or redress. Concludes that violence is a major problem affecting YFH and recommends education programmes for men on both physical and sexual violence, and on culturally‐promoted, psychological and economic violence. YFH need to be empowered educationally and economically to enable them to resist violence.