Sexual violence and associated factors among female students of jimma teacher trianing college, jimma, southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Violence against women is the world’s most prevalent, pervasive and systematic problem. The risk of experiencing sexual violence appears to be particularly great among adolescent girls of SubSaharan African countries especially in Ethiopia. Despite the higher risk of victimization of young women in Ethiopia, data’s on prevalence of sexual violence and its determinants among college students are scarce, particularly in the study setting. This study was addressing the issue. Objective: To assess prevalence and associated factors of sexual violence among female students in Jimma Teacher Training College, Jimma Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional survey was conducted in November, 2014. A total of 322 female students were selected via stratified sampling technique. Self-administered anonymous questionnaire was used to assess the life time prevalence and associated factors of sexual violence. Data was entered by using Epi-data version 3.1 and was exported to Statistical Package for Social Science Software version 21 for analysis. All variables which have p-value of <0.25 in bivariate analysis were entered in to multiple logistic regression. Results: Life time prevalence of sexual violence was found to be 35.1% (95% CI: 29.9 - 40.3) of them had encountered one or more incidences of sexual violence. Among the different forms of sexual violence, the commonest form of sexual violence before or at the age of 13year was found exposing to the victim the sexual organ of the sex offender 5% (n=15) ; Likewise forcing to have sex with them was the commonest form of sexual offence 12.4% ( n=37)among respondents of age above 13 year. And sexual violence was significantly associated with living alone (AOR = 4.3 95% CI: 1.03, 18.09),had monthly financial support (AOR= 0.1, 95% CI: (0.03, 0.73) ,having multiple number of sexual partner in life(AOR = 11.5 95% CI: 2.80, 47.16), lack the trend of discussing reproductive health issues with their parents (AOR= 5.05 95% CI: 1.37, 18.55), average parenting style over the participants behavior(AOR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.06, 0.87),having alcohol (AOR = 8.3 95% CI: 2.57, 27.00) and khat(AOR = 11.05 95% CI: 3.53, 34.60) use behavior. Conclusion: The prevalence of sexual violence among female students in Jimma Teacher Training College was high; which indicates that female students are at high risk of sexual violence. This is alarming in order to give attention; and reduce the prevalence and those risk factors.