Types, Prevalence and Predictors of Sexual Harassment on Female Students of Higher Institutions of Ethiopia: The Case of Debre Markos University, Ethiopia

Abstract

Sexual harassment is one of the biggest challenges of female students in higher institutions of Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to investigate the types, prevalence and predictors of sexual harassment on female students of Debre Markos University. A mixed design approach was employed and data were collected from female students (n=463)using stratified random sampling techniques and from administrative workers of the University (n=5). Quantitative data were collected using a modified version of Sexual Harassment Experience Questionnaire (SHEQ) (Fitzgerald et al, 1988) having 35 items with three dimensions of harassment (Gender harassment, Unwanted sexual attention, and Sexual Coercion. Qualitative data were gathered through FGD and in-depth interviews. Mean, frequency percentage and Pearson's correlation were applied to analyze quantitative data. Thematic analysis was applied for qualitative data. The result showed that more than 36% of the participants had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment either on campus or off campus. A strong positive correlation was found between sexual harassment experience and unwanted sexual attention (r=.69, P<0.001); sexual harassment experience and sexual coercion (r=.54, P<0.001) and unwanted sexual attention and sexual coercion(r=.691).Female students who are non-café were mainly the victims of sexual harassment and the perpetrators were male students, instructors, taxi drivers and businessmen in the town. The findings suggest that female students face different forms of sexual harassment and the university has to make intervention to stop the problem.  The finding has the implication that similar studies need to be conducted in other higher education institutions of Ethiopia.