Sexual coercion at first sexual debut and associated factors among young females in rural areas of Boset District, Eastern Ethiopia: A mixed-method study

Abeya Sileshi Garoma

doi:10.17352/ijsrhc.000031

Abstract

Objectives: Assess the prevalence and associated factors of sexual coercion at first sexual debut among young females in rural areas of Boset district, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional community-based study was conducted using qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. A sample of 632 young females aged 10-24 years was taken from six rural Kebeles by systematic random sampling for quantitative and data was collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. Principally Binary Logistic regression model was fitted. Moreover, eight focus group discussions targeting different groups were held and analyzed thematically. Results: Prevalence of sexual coercion at first sexual debut was 36.5% (95%CI: 34.6%-38.4%) among sexually active respondents. Married young female (AOR,0.71;95%CI: 0.42,0.81), living away from their parents (AOR,5.07;95%CI:1.07,24.01), age group of 15-19 (AOR,0.19; 95%CI:0.06,0.54), alcohol consumption (AOR,2.44;95%CI:1.17, 5.08) and Khat chewing (AOR, 8.30;95%CI:1.89, 36.38) were factors predicting the likelihood of having sexual coercion at sexual debut. Conclusion: Sexual coercion at fist sexual debut is a major public health problem among young females in the study community. The emerging program interventions need to take this problem into consideration.

Highlights

Introduction and backgroundSexual coercion is the act of being physically, psychologically, financially, or otherwise forced or tricked into engaging in sexual activity [1,2]
Most commonly the victims of sexual coercion are women and children [3,4]. These include acts of being worn down by someone who repeatedly asks for sex being lied to or being promised things that weren’t true to trick you into having sex; having someone threaten to end a relationship or spread rumors about you if you don’t have sex with them; and having an authority figure, like a boss, property manager use their influence or authority to pressure young female into having sex [5,6]
Studies in the fields of sexual coercion at sexual debut, including rape are usually based on biased estimates to elicit the relationship between the victims and rapist characterization of the prevalence is challenging [2,7]

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and backgroundSexual coercion is the act of being physically, psychologically, financially, or otherwise forced or tricked into engaging in sexual activity [1,2]. Most commonly the victims of sexual coercion are women and children [3,4]. These include acts of being worn down by someone who repeatedly asks for sex being lied to or being promised things that weren’t true to trick you into having sex; having someone threaten to end a relationship or spread rumors about you if you don’t have sex with them; and having an authority figure, like a boss, property manager use their influence or authority to pressure young female into having sex [5,6]. In a community-based study, 33% of young females reported having sexual coercion from men, and 70% of them knew their perpetrator (a boyfriend and an acquaintance) [2]. Some of the commonly perceived myths are sexual coercion is performed by strangers in dangerous places; the offender or perpetrators

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion