Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of young adults regarding revenge pornography in Ghana: a qualitative study

This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Ghanaian young adults regarding image-based sexual abuse, commonly referred to as "revenge pornography". Forty-eight undergraduate students aged 18-26 years participated in interviews and a focus group discussion. Thematic analysis revealed that the participants showed mixed/varied understanding of revenge pornography, with many expressing negative attitudes towards it. Some participants engaged in prosocial practices, such as limiting the spread of unsolicited sexually explicit images they had received, while others forwarded the images to friends to raise awareness. A few participants, however, apportioned blame to the female victims for their role in image-based sexual abuse. The findings highlight the need for more research to better understand how young people in Ghana perceive, engage with, and respond to image-based sexual abuse.PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENTThis study highlights the need for educational interventions to help Ghanaian young adults understand the mental health consequences of both consensual and non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit images. The findings provide opportunities to raise awareness about revenge pornography, debunk misconceptions about consensual sharing of private sexual images, and address social norms that promote female victim-blaming in the context of revenge pornography.