Abstract

Background: Worldwide, an estimated one in three women are sexually abused and one in five experienced rape or attempted rape in their lifetime. Sexual violence is not only affecting women’s health but it is also a serious violation of women’s human right. The severity of the problem and scarcity of the information in this area among female university students have prompted the undertaking of the study.

Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study supplemented by qualitative method was conducted using WHO multi-country study questionnaire. The study participants were drawn using simple random sampling technique. Quantitative data were entered into Epi Info version 3.5 and analysed using SPSS version 21.0 software program. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the magnitude of associations between sexual violence and risk factors. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data.

Results: The mean age of participants was 21 years (SD=2). Thirty six percent of the respondents were sexually active at the time of the study. The magnitude of forced sex (rape) was 10.9%. The main mechanisms of forcing to sex were 27.3% hitting and 24.2% making drunken alcohol. Forty four (66.7%) of the victims of forced sex did not share the event to anyone. Only four of the victims sought help from health professionals. Using multiple logistic regression, maternal education was negatively associated with forced sex. Khat chewing, history of mother beaten by partner and having regular boyfriend were positively associated with forced sex.

Conclusions: The magnitude of both rape and other forms of sexual violence among the study participants was considerable; even though lower than the findings elsewhere in Ethiopia. The principal correlates are parents’ sociodemographic characteristics and substance use status of students. Understanding of the correlates is the first step for designing strategies to prevent multiple risk factors among university female attendees.

Keywords: Sexual violence; Female students; Factors; Madawalabu University; Ethiopia