Sexual violence against female university students in Ethiopia
Open Access
- 24 July 2017
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in BMC International Health and Human Rights
- Vol. 17 (1), 1-7
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12914-017-0127-1
Abstract
Though many women are suffering the consequences of sexual violence, only few victims speak out as it is sensitive and prone to stigma. This lack of data made it difficult to get full picture of the problem and design proper interventions. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and factors associated with sexual violence among female students of Wolaita Sodo University, south Ethiopia. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted among 462 regular female Wolaita Sodo University students on April 7/2015. Participants were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was done by EPI info and SPSS statistical packages respectively. Descriptive statistics were done. Moreover, bivariate and multivariate analyses were also carried out to identify predictors of sexual violence. The age of respondents ranged from 18 to 26 years. Lifetime sexual violence was found to be 45.4%. However, 36.1% and 24.4% of respondents reported experiencing sexual violence since entering university and in the current academic year respectively. Life time sexual violence was positively associated with witnessing inter-parental violence as a child, rural childhood residence, having regular boyfriend, alcohol consumption and having friends who drink regularly; while it was negatively associated with discussing sexual issues with parents. Sexual violence is a common phenomenon among the students. More detailed research has to be conducted to develop prevention and intervention strategies.Keywords
Funding Information
- Wolaita Sodo University (Wolaita Sodo University has covered the per diem for data collectors)
This publication has 24 references indexed in Scilit:
- Is drinking alcohol associated with sexual coercion among Ugandan university students?: a cross-sectional studyReproductive Health, 2014
- Gender norms and economic empowerment intervention to reduce intimate partner violence against women in rural Côte d’Ivoire: a randomized controlled pilot studyBMC International Health and Human Rights, 2013
- Prevalence and associated factors of sexual violence among private college female students in Bahir Dar city, North Western EthiopiaHealth, 2013
- International Conference on Population and Development at 15 Years: Achieving Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All?American Journal of Public Health, 2010
- Intimate partner violence and depression among women in rural Ethiopia: a cross-sectional studyClinical Practice and Epidemiology in Mental Health, 2009
- Depressive Symptoms Among Female College Students Experiencing Gender-Based Violence in Awassa, EthiopiaJournal of Interpersonal Violence, 2008
- Parent—Adolescent Communication About Sexual Pressure, Maternal Norms About Relationship Power, and STI/HIV Protective Behaviors of Minority Urban GirlsJournal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2008
- Sexual violence among female high school students in Debark, northwest EthiopiaEast African Medical Journal, 2002
- The role of women's alcohol consumption in sexual victimizationAggression and Violent Behavior, 1996
- Violence against women: A neglected public health issue in less developed countriesSocial Science & Medicine (1982), 1994