Kassaye, Mesfin (PhD)Mulugeta, Ermias2018-07-132023-11-052018-07-132023-11-051996-05http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/8479Though 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.enPrevalence, AttitudeThesis