Sexual Pressure and Violence During Adolescence in Semi-Rural Settings of Cameroon

Nathalie Lydié, Université de Montréal
Barthelemy Kuate-Defo, University of Montreal

The extent and correlates of sexual coercion during adolescence in many developing countries remains a matter of conjecture. We use qualitative and quantitative data from repeat community inquiries fielded in 1996-1997 and 2002 in Cameroon to shed some light on the nature of and influences on sexual pressure and violence in over fifty semi-rural areas of Cameroon. Quantitative data analyses demonstrate that adolescents are significantly more likely to be victims of sexual coercion than adults and that girls are more victimized than boys. Qualitative data suggest that female adolescents identify rape and sexual harassment as well as their consequences as their major concerns. Multivariate analyses are conducted to attempt to disentangle the various influences on sexual pressure and violence during adolescence and how these influences are changing over time and contexts. The implications of this research are discussed within the framework of intervention programs targeted at young people in Cameroon.