The Role of the Family Environment on the Prevalence of Rape in Cameroon

Marcel Nkoma, Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Cameroon

The paper aims to gain insight into the extent and consequences of rape in Cameroon, and more specifically, to highlight the relationship between rape victims and rapists. Using data on rape and incest from a survey jointly organized by GIZ and the National Network of Tantine Associations on a sample of 37,719 women interviewed, the results showed that in the last twenty years, 5.2% of girls and women in Cameroon have been raped, while the prevalence rate was only 0.1% in 1970. One fifth of the victims were raped by a family member and the average age of rape victims is 15 years. Consequently, 16% of victims reported having contracted STIs and 24% of the victims found themselves pregnant as a result of rape. The paper makes use of qualitative analysis. We will restrict our study exclusively to those consequences related to health effects such as STIs, unwanted pregnancies.