[01] Isaac Eshun, Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Enchi College of Education, Enchi, Ghana. [02] Anthony Bordoh, Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Enchi College of Education, Enchi, Ghana. [03] Patrick Kwarteng, Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Wiawso College of Education, Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana. [04] Shani Osman, Department of Arts and Social Sciences, Tumu College of Education, Tumu, Ghana. [05] Kweku Joseph Prah, Social Sciences Department, Kwegyir Aggrey Senior High School, Anomabo, Ghana.

Student sexual abuse is a reality in our senior high schools and the nature of it is on the rise. To find how grievous sexual abuse in senior high schools is, the study examined the nature of sexual abuse in public senior high schools. The research was conducted in four (4) different public senior high schools in the Mfantsiman Municipality in the Central Region of Ghana as one case study. Simple size of 403 students and 20 teachers as participants were employed for the study, simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. Structured questionnaires were used to solicit data from the respondents. The data were presented in the form of percentages and frequency tables to facilitate clearer and easier interpretation of results for the presentation of findings. The varying nature of sexual abuse from the respondents for the study indicated that penetrative form of sex may include unwanted oral sex, anal or vaginal intercourse were admitted by the students and teachers as well as non-contact sexual abuse which may include, sexual harassment, unwanted sexual phone calls, unwanted sexual messages, unwanted sexual jokes and frequent request for sexual favours are common in public senior high schools in Ghana. Perhaps, today, our senior high schools present a prime target for perpetrators of sexual abuse because most schools have few, if any protective barriers in place. Strategies like continued examination of counselling services in public senior high schools to give advice on sexual maturation and concerns such as assault, sexual harassment and teenage pregnancy should be provided to female students. Necessary provisions should be made for female students with special needs so that they can care for themselves and become productive resources for the society.

Nature, Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Students, Senior High Schools

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