ISSN 2736-1578
African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2736-1578 Vol. 4 (11), pp. 001-006, November, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
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.
Accepted 08 November, 2019
Abstract
Trafficking in women and children recently emerged as a global issue. This study assesed the pattern of trfficking 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.