Prevalence and Socio-demographic Factors of Sexual Violence among Female Undergraduates in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka Campus, Enugu State

Abstract

Sexual violence is a serious public health menace that calls for attention. Prevalence of sexual violence among female undergraduates in University of Nigeria, Nsukka is unknown and could be attributed to some socio-demographic factors. The study investigated prevalence and socio-demographic factors of sexual violence among female undergraduates in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) Campus, Enugu State. The cross-sectional research design was used for the study. The population for the study comprised of 15,744 female undergraduates in UNN. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to draw the sample size of 405students. A self-developed Prevalence Sexual Violence Questionnaire’ (PSVQ) was used for data collection. Three experts from the Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education validated the instrument. Spearman Brown’s Correlation formula was used to test reliability of the PSVQ which yielded an internal consistency of 0.815. Out of the 405 questionnaires that were administered, only 392 were completed and used for analysis. The SPSS version 25 was employed for data coding. Frequency and percentage were used to analyse and answer the research questions, while Chi-Square statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 alpha level. The findings indicated that 52.8 per cent of female undergraduates have experienced at least one form of sexual violence. Age, year of study, and relationship statuses were significantly associated with the prevalence of sexual violence among female undergraduates in UNN. However, stiffer punishments and measures should be put in place so as to discourage acts of sexual violence as well as ensure that there are adequate and accessible pathways for easy reporting of acts of sexual violence.