Sexual Coercion and Associated Factors among Female Private University Students in Bishoftu Town, East Shewa Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Sexual coercion refers to any sexual act or attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advance. Women from all age group are vulnerable. Especially, it is a widely recognized public health problem affecting students from higher educational institution. This study aimed to identify the prevalence of sexual coercion and its predictors among female private university students in Bishoftu town, East Shewa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed in Adama and Rift valley Universities branches found in Bishoftu town from May 26 to June 12, 2016.A total of 395 students were involved in the study. Simple random sampling method was employed to select the study participants. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was conducted. To identify the predictor variables a P-value less than 0.05 were taken as significant association by considering 95% confidence interval. Results: The study revealed that 171(43.3%) of the respondents experienced sexual coercion. Being a social science student (AOR=2.167; 95%CI=1.139,4.122), respondents fathers’ educational status (AOR=0.406; 95% CI=0.200,0.820), Mothers’ educational status (AOR=0.377; 95% CI=0.191,0.744), respondents source of support (AOR=2.511; 95% CI=1.225, 5.147) and drinking alcohol (AOR=0.358; 95% CI=0.177, 0.723) were found to be the predictors of the sexual coercion among the students. Conclusion: More than half of the respondents had experienced sexual coercion. The main experience was unwelcomed touch. Faculty in which the students enrolled, fathers’ educational status, mothers’ educational status, source of support for the students and alcohol drinking habit associated significantly with the sexual coercion experience.