1. Oguchi C, Yahaya A, Adeyemi T.E, Akpasa I, Otuyemi O.D 12th-03-2016
BULLYING AND ITS EFFECTS ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AMONGST NIGERIAN STUDENTS
Oguchi C, Yahaya A, Adeyemi T.E, Akpasa I, Otuyemi O.D
12th

2. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The problem of bullying is a worldwide phenomenon with consequences that extend beyond the immediate period during which the acts are carried out.
Bullying has been defined as a specific form of aggressive behavior or intentional harm to which an individual is exposed, repeatedly in a relationship characterized by an imbalance of power.
The reported prevalence of bullying varies globally depending on the location, age group and the protocols for the study.

3. BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
This study was carried in the city of Kano, north western Nigeria. Kano is one the most populous city in Nigeria.
The city is home to people of various tribes, however it is populated mostly by the Hausa - Fulani tribe and the prevailing culture is distinct from some other regions in Nigeria.
While few studies In Nigeria have investigated the prevalence of bullying amongst school children, none at this time have investigated the factors that contribute to the phenomenon, such as general physical appearance and dentofacial features.

4. OBJECTIVES
To determine the prevalence of bullying amongst Nigerian students and its effects on their attitudes towards school attendance

5. SUBJECTS AND METHODS
The study was a cross sectional survey carried out amongst year olds from 8 randomly selected secondary schools (4 private and 4 public) across 4 local government areas of Kano state, Nigeria.
Sampling was by multistage sampling technique, which made use of simple random sampling technique at various stages to select the sample population. Eight schools were randomly selected from a list of all secondary schools within the Kano metropolis. In each of these schools, 10 classes were selected from both Junior and Senior Secondary School. Subjects who had a history of orthodontic treatment were excluded.

6. SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Ethical approval was received from the Research and Ethics Committee of College of Health Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Nigeria.
Ethical principles of our institution were adhered to during the entire process.
Data was collected using a structured anonymous self administered questionnaire modified from that used by Al-Bitar et al.

7. SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Questionnaires were distributed to the subjects in their classrooms with a class teacher present. A researcher was present in the class room at all times to provide clarifications where necessary.
Data collected was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Statistics (SPSS) Version 17.0
Descriptive statistics were used to determine frequency distribution and percentages for all variables. Chi square test was used to determine association between variables and P value < 0.05 was considered significant for all the differences and associations.

8. RESULTS
A total of 1062 subjects were recruited, however 62 (5.80%) were not used because they did not return with signed consent forms.
The mean age of the total sample population was 15.14±2.03years.
Boys constituted 56.10% of the sample population. Respondents from private schools were 581(58.10%).

9. RESULTS The prevalence of bullying was relatively high (43.7%).
Male
Female
Total
P – value
VICTIM
Yes
242 (43.1%)
195 (44.4%)
437 (43.7%)
p=0.685 No
319 (56.9%)
244 (55.6%)
563 (56.3%)
BULLY
215(38.3%)
114(26.0%)
329 (32.9%)
p=0.165
34 (61.7%)
325 (74.0%)
671 (67.1%)
RESULTS
The prevalence of bullying was relatively high (43.7%).
There was no statistically significant gender difference among respondents who were bullied (p value = 0.685) and among those who claimed to have bullied someone (p value = 0.165).

10. Private
Public
P-value
VICTIM
Yes
231 (39.8%)
(49.2%)
p=0.003 No
(60.2%)
(50.8%)
Total
581 (100%)
(100%)
BULLY
(25.0%)
(43.9%)
p=0.000
(75.0%)
(56.1%)
(100%)
(100%)
RESULTS
A statistically significant proportion of subjects in public (49.2%) got bullied than in private schools (39.8%), (p value = 0.003). Similarly, amongst those that reported bullying someone else, a statistically significant proportion of public school students (43.9%) indulged in bullying others than in the private schools (25.0%),(p value = 0.000).

11. BULLIED
NOT BULLIED
TOTAL
(n=437)
(n=563)
(n=1000) P
(%)
value
Class
Hate
19 (4.3)
19 (3.4)
38 (3.8)
<0.05*
I am neither happy nor unhappy
110 (25.2)
105 (18.7)
215 (21.5)
like
308 (70.5)
439 (78.0)
747(74.7)
Outside class
46 (10.5)
45 (8.0)
91 (9.1)
131 (30.0)
124 (22.0)
255 (25.5)
260 (59.5)
394 (70.0)
654 (65.4)
Playing truant
Yes
41 (9.4)
20 (3.6)
61 (6.1) No
396 (90.6)
543 (96.4)
939 (93.9)
RESULTS
More of the bullied hated being in the classroom or outside the classroom environment. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Similarly, significant number of the bullied pupils (9.5%) played truant than the non-bullied subjects (3.6%) (p<0.05).

12. AFFECT GRADES
FREQUENCY
(n=437)
PERCENTAGE
(100%)
Not at all
192
43.9
Very little
141
34.1
A lot 96
22.0
RESULTS
When asked about the perceived effect of bullying on their academic performance, 96 (22.0%) respondents indicated that bullying had significant effect on their performance.

13. Boys
Girls n %
Height 87 85
172
39.4
Hair 61 86
147
33.6
Weight 74 68
142
32.5
Strength 82 57
139
31.8
Nose 42 63
105
24.0
Clothes 51 54
Eyes 38 59 97
22.2
Pimples 80
18.3
Teeth 52 27 79
18.1
Lips 34 33 67
15.3
Chin
Ears 28 66
15.1
Glasses 29
14.4
*TOTAL
1329
RESULTS
Among the general physical features targeted by bullies, height was the most common characteristic reported in males, while hair was the most frequently identified among female subjects.

14. Boys
Girls
Total
DENTOFACIAL FEATURES n %
Shape or colour of teeth 25 15 40
27.2
Having a gap between your teeth/having missing teeth 22 37
25.2
Chin sticking out 12 34
23.1
Being unable to close your lips comfortably or showing too much of your front teeth
Crooked teeth 20 32
21.8
Top front teeth are sticking out 7 29
19.7
Chin too far back 14 26
17.7
Lower front teeth are sticking out 17 24
16.3
Top front teeth not covering lower front teeth and having gaps between the front teeth when your back teeth are biting together 9
Showing too much gums above the upper teeth when you smile 23
15.6
RESULTS
Amongst dento-facial characteristics identified as targets for bullying, shape and color of teeth (27.2%) and gap between teeth / having missing teeth (25.2%) were frequently reported.

15. CONCLUSION
The prevalence of bullying was relatively high (43.7%), however, there was no statistically significant gender difference in the sample population.
More bullying and admittance to bullying others was reported in public than in private schools.
General physical and dento-facial features were targets of bullying which had a negative impact on the attitude towards school and academic performance in the study population.