Abstract:
BACKGROUND: A number of studies conducted on sexual harassment focused on general magnitude
rather than specific details of the various forms of sexual harassment and their effect on psychological
health. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence rates of the various forms of sexual
harassments and their associations with psychological distress among Jimma University female
students.
METHODS: Three hundred and eighty five (385) female participants were selected from all colleges
using stratified and systematic sampling techniques. A structured questionnaire consisting of items on
the various forms of sexual harassment and psychological distress was administered.
RESULT: The prevalence rates of physical, verbal and nonverbal sexual harassments were 78.2%,
90.4% and 80.0%, respectively, while the prevalence rate of psychological distress among students who
had experienced sexual harassment was 63.0%. The multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated
that students who were physically [adjusted OR = 3.950, 95% CI = (1.979, 7.884)] and nonverbally
[(adjusted OR = 12.099, 95% CI= (5.190, 28.205] harassed were 4 and 12 times more likely to experience
psychological distress, respectively, adjusted for all other variables.
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of various forms of sexual harassment were higher and strongly
associated with psychological distress. Important implications for University officials and policy makers
including creating harassment free University have been drawn. Otherwise, female students tend to
dropout and their academic achievements suffer a lot as a result of psychological distress; and the
government’s effort for realizing the gender parity in education would be compromised
