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Thandeka Moyo, Health Reporter 

ZIMBABWE recorded a 15 percent increase in sexual abuse cases mostly affecting teenage girls with Harare leading while Matabeleland North recorded the least. 

Defined as any action that pressures or coerces someone to do something sexually, sexual violence is most prevalent in young women than men and this puts young women at high risk of HIV.

According to a National Aids Council report, teens fuel new HIV infections. 

The report shows that HIV prevalence among 16-24 year-old females is 4.5 percent and 3.5 percent in males. 

“Harare, Manicaland and Mashonaland West provinces recorded the highest number of sexual abuse cases and Matabeleland North recorded the lowest. Generally, there was a 14.9 percent increase in sexual abuse cases from 2017 to 2018,” read the report.

For both years under review, in Matabeleland North, sexual abuse cases remained below 500 while Harare recorded 2 300 in 2017 and 2 700 in 2018. 

Bulawayo recorded between 800 and 850 cases while Matabeleland South stands at 700 for 2018. Midlands and Masvingo provinces recorded 600 and 900 cases respectively in 2018. 

“Sexual violence is most prevalent in young women than men and this puts young women at high risk of HIV. According to the Young Adult Survey of 2018, the prevalence of sexual violence among women before the age of 18 for 18-24 year olds was 9 percent and of sexual violence experienced in the past year for 13-17 year olds was 4 percent,” read the report. 

According to the report, Nac supported different activities which were targeted at community leaders, traditional and religious leaders, school authorities, political leaders, business and communities in general to raise awareness on sexual abuse. 

 “The activities were meant to raise awareness on HIV and gender-based violence, the referral pathways for survivors of gender based violence (GBV), child marriages, policies and laws. The major implementer was the Ministry of Women Affairs, which spearheaded awareness campaigns against gender-based violence culminating in the national launch of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in Mutare,” read the report.

— @thamamoe