A total of 1244 individuals participated in the study and provided details of their experience of sexual violence. This was defined as forced intercourse; coerced intercourse; attempted unwanted intercourse; unwanted touching; and forced touching.
A little over a third of participants reported sexual violence by the age of 18, and this increased to 38% when the investigators included young women aged between 18 and 24 years. Forced intercourse was reported by 5% of girls before the age of 18, with coerced intercourse being reported by 9%. The youngest age at which sexual violence was experienced was twelve, with the mean age being a little under 16 years.
Of the girls who reported sexual violence, 43% had experienced two or more incidents by the age of 18.
Swazi men, who already believe in large numbers that circumcision makes the male immune to HIV infection, will use their circumcision status to further coerce young girls and women to submit to unprotected intercourse. A more dire unintended consequence could not be imagined or more obvious, if professionals from the social sciences had had a role in determining the wisdom of circumcision promotion initiatives. Halperin, Gray, Auvert, and Bailey can't wash the blood from their hands fast enough.
Link: Aidsmap | Sexual violence against girls widespread in Swaziland.
