Prevalence, Attitude and Factors related to sexual violence among high school students
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Date
1996-05
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Addis Abeba Universty
Abstract
Though sexual violence is increasingly being
recognized as a problem in different countries there
is a knowledge gap regarding this problem in Ethiopia
which prompt the conduct of this study. Focused Group
discussion and cross sectional school-based survey
using self administered anonymous questionnaire was
conducted in Addis Ababa and Western Shoa high school
students from January 1 to January 15, 1996 to
determine prevalence, factors related to, reported
outcome and attitude of high school students towards
sexual violence. A total of 2773 students were
involved in the study. A prevalence rate of completed
rape and attempted rape among female students was
5.2% and 10.1% respectively. Eighty nine(6.5%) of
male students admitted to rape a girl while
181(13.2%) claimed to attempt rape. Sexual harassment
was reported in 74.3% of female students. Unwanted
pregnancy and different forms of psychiatric
disturbance were reported among rape victims which
signifies the role of rape in these health problems.
There was significantly higher proportion of rape
among female students who were aged more than 20
(OR=6.00 95% I, 27.57), from divorced family (OR=2.46
95% CI:1.31, 4.5), who were living alone (OR=4.88 95%
CI:2.17,10.71), who were living with a relative
(OR=2.49 95% CI:1.10, 5.46) and who had a boy friend
(OR=7.86 95% CI:4.56, 13.64). There was a
significantly higher proportion of committing rape
among males who were living in rural areas, who were
living alone and who had a girl friend (OR=0.43 95%
CI:0.26-0.69; OR=2.44 95% CI:1.16, 5.02; OR=4.48 95%
CI:2.82,7.11 respectively). Substance use and
physical force were also contributing to the offence.
On attitude towards sexual violence major proportion
of students believe that it is" acceptable" to force
a girl to have intercourse in certain conditions.
Both the survey and focus group discussion address
that sexual violence is a serious problem and not a
rare event among high school students. Based on these
findings it is recommended that sexual violence
deserves due attention and remedial action from
concerned bodies and further qualitative study is
recommended to have in depth knowledge.
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Keywords
Prevalence, Attitude