Psychological Needs Assessment for Victims of Sexual Violence at Gender-Based Violence Referral Centres in Ogun State

Sexual violence perpetrates profound psychological harm, and systematic needs assessment is essential for designing responsive, trauma-informed psychological services at gender-based violence referral centres. In Ogun State, South West Nigeria, the psychological needs profile of sexual violence victims accessing formal support services has not been systematically assessed. This study conducts a psychological needs assessment of sexual violence victims presenting at three GBV referral centres in Abeokuta, Sagamu, and Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. A mixed-methods needs assessment design is applied, combining structured psychological screenings of 180 survivors with focus group discussions with 30 service providers. The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-25, and the Self-Sufficiency Matrix are used for survivor assessment. Qualitative data are analysed thematically using NVivo. Available trauma psychology literature from South West Nigeria identifies acute PTSD, depression, shame-based self-blame, and disrupted sexual health cognitions as the dominant psychological needs, with most survivors also requiring crisis social support and legal advocacy alongside psychological care. The Trauma-Informed Care Framework and the Social-Ecological Model of sexual violence recovery provide the conceptual reference. Findings will guide the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs in scaling trauma-informed psychological services at GBV referral centres. Keywords: psychological needs assessment, sexual violence, GBV referral centres, Ogun State, South West Nigeria.