Deressa, Wakgari (PhD)Bekele, Tolesa2018-07-182023-11-052018-07-182023-11-052012-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/9282Background: Sexual coercion refers to a range of experiences that compel a person to have sex against her or his will, and it is a public health problem of concern throughout the world. This is not only because of physical injury that may result but also because of potentially harmful health behaviours that may be triggered in response to violence. The severity of the problem and inadequacy of the studies in this area has prompted the undertaking of this study. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude and factors associated with sexual coercion among female students of Ambo University in 2012. Methods: A cross-sectional institution based study was conducted among female students of Ambo University from January, 2012 using the World Health Organization (WHO) multicountry self-administered standard questionnaire with minor modifications. Then 597 study participants were selected by simple random sampling method from selected departments using students’ registration number. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS version16.0 statistical software packages. Thematic analysis was used for focus group discussions (FGDs). Results: About 77 (13%) of the female students were raped at least once in lifetime and 177 (30%) experienced an attempted rape in their lifetime. Most of the study participants 465 (78.8%) reported that they experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime. Among the victims of completed lifetime rape, 43 (55.4%) encountered unusual vaginal discharge, 29 (37.7%) had experienced unwanted pregnancy, 26 (33.8%) had abortion, 18 (23.4%) reported injury around the genitalia and 17 (22.1%) experienced swelling around the genitalia. Psychological outcomes like unhappiness, thinking that worthless person, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt were reported by 70.1%, 64.9%, 22.1% and 2.6% of the rape victims, respectively. The odds of experiencing lifetime rape was higher among participants of 3rd year or more (AOR=2.97, 95%CI: 1.02, 8.62), 4th year (AOR=4.85, 95%, 1.38, 16.99), aged 24 years or more (AOR=3.92, 95%CI: 1.13, 13.55), female students who reported drinking alcohol (AOR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.63, 6.50), who had boyfriends (AOR=2.35, 95%CI: 1.71, 4.90), who had more than one sexual partner (AOR=2.64,955CI: 1.03, 6.77) and participants with history of divorced families (AOR=6.53, 95%CI: 1.38, 30.80). Conclusion: This study shows that sexual coercion is common and serious problem among university female students in the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that sexual coercion needs due attention and remedial action by policy makers, university officials, parents, students, non-governmental organizations and other concerned bodies to promote a harassment free educational environment for female students.enSexual CoercionThesis