International Journal of
Sociology and Anthropology

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Sociol. Anthropol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2006-988X
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJSA
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 331

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.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 08 February 2010
  •  Published: 31 March 2010

Abstract

 

Trafficking in women and children recently emerged as a global issue. This study assessed the pattern of trafficking 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.