EXPERIENCE OF VIOLENCE BY YOUNG WOMEN IN THE INFORMAL WORK SECTOR IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

This study describes the types and risk factors for experience of violence by 695 female youths working as hairdressing and tailoring apprentices and hawkers were interviewed in three states in South west, Nigeria. The mean age of the subjects was 23.5 years. Most (72.2%) worked long hours (>10 hours) and for six n days of the week (87.2%). The commonest violent acts experienced was sexual violence (61.3%) followed by economic violence (27.5%). Sexual harassment was the common type of (36.3%) sexual violence experienced, while 5.5% had experienced rape. Economic violence was by withholding or reducing payments (23.4%) or being forced to perform duties for which no payments were made (57%). Younger aged girls were more likely to experience physical (AOR 1.60; 95%CI 1.06-2.43), sexual (AOR 3.53; 95%CI 2.06-7.63) and psychological violence (OR 1.10; 95%CI 1.11-2.33) than their older counterparts. Similarly, students who did not live with their parents (OR 1.53; 1.25 -2.45), or worked long hours outside the home (OR 1.48; 1.07-2.03) were more vulnerable to experiencing violence. Most of the victims (59.3 %) did not seek care or redress for the violent acts they suffered. Multiple interventions targeted at men in the workplace, the young women themselves are needed. Microcredit facilities for the female youths are recommended.