title: Some Epidemiological Characteristics of Perpetrators and Victims of Incest in Contemporary Ghana: Analysis of Media Reports.
abstract: In Ghana, incest is considered sinful, taboo, and illegal. However, recent media reports show that incest has become a daily reality in Ghana. This study is a situational analysis of the pattern of incest in Ghana as reported in the media from January 2008 through July 2015. Qualitative content analysis was conducted on 48 incest news reports in Ghana. The findings showed that father-daughter incest was most frequent across the study period. Forty-seven females aged 3 to 25 years and a male aged 3 years were identified as victims. Generally, the incest lasted between 1 day and 13 years before disclosure. Perpetrators employed psychological and/or physical methods to coerce their victims. Marital difficulties, diabolical control, and seduction by victim featured prominently as alleged motives behind the abuse. The study observes that the recent increase in father-daughter incest warrants an immediate shift of research attention onto men's mental health in Ghana.
authors.affiliation: a School of Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Health , University of Leeds , Leeds , United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emmanuel N-B
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Quarshie
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences , University of Ghana , Accra , Ghana.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Osafo
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences , University of Ghana , Accra , Ghana.
authors.forename: Charity S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Akotia
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences , University of Ghana , Accra , Ghana.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peprah
authors.affiliation: c Department of Mental Health , Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway.
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Andoh-Arthur
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003068:Coercion; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D007179:Incest / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008571:Men / Q000523:psychology*; D008603:Mental Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: child sexual abuse; diabolical control; father–daughter incest; marital difficulties; violence against women