Magnitude and Associated Factors of Gender-Based Violence among Female Students at High Schools, Arsi Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: Gender-based violence against women is directed at women because it disproportionately affects them. It includes acts that inflict physical, mental, or sexual harm or suffering. Worldwide, 66 million girls are missing an education due to gender- based violence.

Objective: To assess the magnitude and associated factors of gender-based violence among female students of Bokoji town high schools, Arsi zone, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2023.

Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Bokoji, Oromia, Ethiopia. A total of 362 female students were selected by stratified sampling techniques. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were coded, entered into Epi-Info version 7.1, and exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used to present the findings. Each independent variable fitted with a p-value less than 0.25 in the bivariate model was entered into multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the degree of association with GBV. The significance level was obtained with a 95% CI and a p-value <0.05.

Result: - The overall lifetime prevalence of GBV among female students was 229 (64.3%) (95% CI: 0.64, 0.36). Poor school performance (AOR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.8, 10.3), respondents who drink alcohol (AOR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.38, 11.12), and respondents having friends who drink alcohol (AOR: 10.89; 95% CI: 1.76, 67.21) increased significantly the risk of gender-based violence.

Conclusion: This study found that gender-based violence is still a common problem among high school female students. The lifetime prevalence of gender-based violence was high. Thus, interventions aimed at addressing gender-based violence problems by high school administration should be considered based on the identified determinant factors of GBV in the study area.