Drivers of gender-based violence amongst the students in higher learning institutions: A case of Kwame Nkrumah university

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the Drivers of Gender Based Violence amongst students in higher learning institutions in Zambia. The study used a descriptive case study design and data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. Simple random sampling procedure was used to target 62 participants and purposive sampling was used to collect data from 2 university staff and 1 District GBV officer. Data was collected and analyzed using themes that emerged from the literature review and objectives of the study. The main findings of the study were that the prevalent levels of Gender Based Violence amongst students in higher learning institutions were ignorance about Gender Based Violence as most students have little or no understanding on what constitutes GBV and the few who understood could not take action because of not knowing where to go. Furthermore, the findings revealed that Alcohol and Drug abuse amongst students was largely responsible for GBV, peer pressure and the environment created by the institutions. High learning institutions should take a deliberate policy to foster equality and protect every student in the institution. Further, the institutions should engage the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) for sensitization programs and also promote student activism. There is need for university management to review the policies to protect every student from abuse by both students and lectures