Trafficking in women and children: A hidden health and social problem in Nigeria
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Date
2010-03
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Publisher
Academic Journals in Medical Sociology , Middlesbrough, UK
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.
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Keywords
Trafficking, women, children, problem, Nigeria
Citation
International Journal of Sociology and Anthropology.