Childhood sexuality and child sexual abuse in southwest Nigeria

There is paucity of information and research on childhood sexuality and child sexual abuse in Nigeria. This low level of information may not be unconnected with the fact that generally discussions on sexual matters still remain a taboo in our culture. It is almost abominable to discuss sex with children. There is need for a radical departure from this position in view of the fact that at least 5% of the respondents in this study admitted having had sex between 6 and 10 years of age and 81 respondents (2.1%) were sexually abused in childhood. The urgent need for more research and a multidisciplinary problem resolution approach to childhood sexuality and child sexual abuse is stressed.