Introduction

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic directed against a person’s sexuality using force, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, and in any setting, such as home and work [1]. Sexual violence is a severe public health problem that has drawn global attention as a worldwide problem [2]. Sexual violence results in short and long-term adverse psychological and social outcomes. In addition, it has significant reproductive health implications such as increased risk for sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies [1, 3]. Though women and girls suffer disproportionately, sexual violence can occur to anybody at any age. It is also an act of violence that can be perpetrated by parents, caregivers, acquaintances, strangers, and intimate partners [4].

Globally 1 in 3 (35%) of women have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime [5]. Based on a report from the WHO, the rate of violence against women in African countries was estimated to be 36.3% [6]. Sexual violence is a widespread problem in sub-Saharan Africa [7]. In Ethiopia, like the other sub-Saharan Africa countries the rate of sexual violence is high which is 59% of ever-partnered women experienced sexual violence [8]. As part of Ethiopia, in Tigray, sexual violence is still high, for example, a research done in Adigrat hospital shows 60.2% of rape cases occurred among children and adolescents [9].

Millions faced violence and harassment in workplaces [10]. The potential perpetrators of sexual violence and harassment can be anyone, including employers, workers and third parties (clients, customers, service providers, users, patients) [11]. Moreover, victims can be targeted based on different factors such as gender, economic class, race, sexual orientation, disability, or a combination of them factors [10, 11]. Nevertheless, sexual violence and harassment affect women disproportionately, and men tend to be the perpetrators [11]. Accurately estimating the prevalence of sexual violence in the developing world is difficult because there are few studies done on sexual violence in employed women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess factors associated with sexual violence among female administrative staffs of Mekelle University, North Ethiopia.

Main text

Methods

This institution based cross-sectional study was conducted in Mekelle city, North Ethiopia which is 783 km far from Addis Ababa. Mekelle University has seven campuses, and colleges and all colleges were included in the study. The total number of female administrative staffs working in all campuses were 937. The study population was a sample of the female administrative staff at Mekelle University. The sample size was calculated using single population proportion formula. Using systematic sampling technique, 356 (sample size) females were selected using the Kith value of 3. Sexual violence was the dependent variable of the study whereas the independent variables were sociodemographic, substance-related, work status and psychosexual characteristics related variables.

Primary data was collected using a structured pre-tested and self-administered questionnaire that was developed from the existing literature [12, 13]. The questionnaire was first developed in English then translated to Tigrigna (local language). Before the actual time of data collection, a pre-test was conducted on 10% similar population in Mekelle city administration not included in the study. Data collectors were assigned to the seven campuses of Mekelle University to distribute and collect the questionnaire. Data entry was conducted using EPI-INFO version 7 computer software, and data cleaning and analysis was done using SPSS version 22. The data cleaning was performed by calculating frequency of each variable to check accuracy, inconsistency and missed the value of the data. Before analysis of the data, recoding of variables was conducted to make it easy for analysis. Descriptive statistics like frequency for normally distributed data and median with interquartile range for non-normally distributed data to all variables were computed. Bivariate logistic regression was used as method of analysis, variables statistically significant with P < 0.3 was taken to the multivariable logistic regression. For all statistical significance tests between each independent and dependent variable, significant at P < 0.05 was be considered reliable for the analysis of the study.

Sexual violence was operationalized as unwanted sexual act such as a verbal joke, question for sex, faced unwanted kiss, unwelcomed touching of woman’s body parts such as breast, genitalia, forced sexual attempt, forced sex without consent/will, forced sex that made a woman frightened and degrading in the past six months.

Results

Sociodemographic characteristics

A total of 356 female administrative staff of Mekelle University participated in this study giving a response rate of 100%. From the total participants, 174 (48.9%) of them were in the age group 26–35 years, and 171 (48%) of the participants were married. Regarding ethnicity, majority (89%) of them were Tigrians as well as 270 (75.8%) females were Orthodox Christian. Two hundred thirty-four (65.7%) participants had educational status of certificate and above. About 22.2% of the participants were working as runners (transport patients from one department to other department in a hospital). Two hundred and fifteen (60.4%) of the participant females had a monthly salary of 500–1500 Birr (Table 1).

Table 1 Sexual violence vs sociodemographic characteristics of female employees of MU, 2018 (n = 356)
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Sexual violence

From the total number of participants, 188 (52.8%) had a shift on their work schedule and 110 (30.9%) of them had day and night shift. About half 180 (50.2%) of the participants face sexual violence. Similarly, 53 (14.9%) of the violence was performed by their boss. Workmates and students were also other common perpetrators. The number of female workers who face violence in their workplace was 122 (67.8%) whereas, the rest faced violence was happened outside their workplaces such as in bus and other places. Bullying was the common act of violence as reported by 82 (45.5%) of participants. One hundred fourteen (63.3%) of the victims didn’t know whether the perpetrators use a substance or not whereas from those who responded yes for substance use, 26 (57.8%) of the perpetrators used alcohol. From the total study participants, about 46.4% had no boyfriend and from those who had boyfriend 105 (29.5%) of them had regular sexual contact (Table 2).

Table 2 Sexual violence versus different variables among female administrative staffs of MU, 2018 (n = 356)
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Factors associated with sexual violence

To assess the relationship between the dependent and independent variables, logistic regression analysis method was used. In binary logistic regression educational status, workplace, having a night shift, having boyfriend, sexual contact, having multiple partners and knowing other females violated in the office were statistically associated with sexual violence. Whereas, in multiple logistic regression the factors associated with sexual violence were: age, educational status, workplace, having a night shift, having multiple partners and knowing other female violated in office.

Females in the age group 15–25 years were two times at greater risk of sexual violence than the other age groups [AOR: 2.319 (1.059–5.075)]. Similarly, females in high school or lower with their educational status were approximately two times at greater risk of sexual violence as compared to their counterparts [AOR: 1.981 (1.126–3.485)]. Type of work was also strongly associated with sexual violence. As a result, females working in office related (secretary, runners) and student-related works (registrar, library, proctor) had 4 and 3 times chance of having sexual violence than the females working in other places (laundry and others) respectively [AOR: 4.143 (1.975–8.687), 2.887 (1.396–5.973)]. The participants who had night shifts were two times at greater risk than those who had not night shifts [AOR: 2.131 (1.258–3.611)]. Additionally, females having a history of multiple partners was approximately nine times more at risk of sexual violence as compared to their counterparts [AOR: 8.916 (3.052–26.047)]. Participants who know violence in their workplace were four times risky than those who did not [AOR: 3.920 (2.326–6.606)] (Table 3).

Table 3 Factors associated with sexual violence among the female administrative staff of MU, 2018 (n = 356)
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Discussion

This study aimed to assess sexual violence among female administrative staffs of Mekelle University. The magnitude of sexual violence in the workplace was 34.3%. Whereas in a study done to assess sexual harassment in workplace conducted in Lebanon, the prevalence of sexual violence was 41.9% [13]. In addition, this finding of the study was lower than a study done in Nepal that asses sexual violence in work place, which showed about 53.8% of women employees faced sexual violence in their workplace [14]. Similarly, a study done in Malaysia among employed women found that 52.7% sexual violence was conducted in workplace [15]. This variation might be due to differences in socioeconomic status, study participants, sample size and operational definition of the problem. In this study, for example, any action against the women was considered as sexual violence.

The current study revealed that the common perpetrators of sexual violence were bosses (14.9%), workmates (12.1%), students (9.3%), husbands (7%) and boyfriends (7.3%). Whereas, in a study conducted in Nigeria the perpetrators were clients and managers [13]. Similarly, in a study done in Denmark and Danish workplaces sexual violence was conducted by colleagues, supervisors, subordinates [16]. This difference is due to the time gap, study design, and a difference in sociodemographic status.

This study found that females working in student-related work such as registrar, proctor and library as well as females working in office related activities were at higher risk of sexual violence as compared to females working in others like laundry [AOR: 4.143 (1.975–8.687), 2.887 (1.396–5.973)]. This variation might be due to these areas require much interpersonal interaction that could make them vulnerable to violence. However, in a study done in Denmark and Danish workplaces, participants employed in care work were more often exposed to sexual violence by clients and customers than participants employed in private service, professional work, building and construction, and industrial work [16]. This variation might be due to a difference in the study area in which the study done in Denmark, and Danish workplaces were conducted in different areas. In developing countries, casual workers and informal sector workers appear to be particularly subject to harassment [16].

In a study done in Meda-Walabu, the associated factors of sexual violence were chat chewing, history of mother beaten by a partner and having regular boyfriend were positively associated with forced sex [17]. Additionally, A cross-sectional study in Iran showed that drugs used in their husbands were associated with sexual violence [18]. However, in this study substance use by the perpetrator and having boyfriend were not statistically associated with sexual violence. The variation in different studies is because this study was done in the workplace in which substance use is not allowed during working hours. Whereas the other studies were done in schools and the public.

In this study, the participants who had night shifts were two times at greater risk than those who had not night shifts [AOR: 2.131(1.258–3.611)]. This difference is because night time is a more convenient for violent people. Additionally, females having a history of multiple partners were approximately nine times more at risk of sexual violence as compared to their counterparts [AOR: 8.916 (3.052–26.047)]. Because in such situation disagreements can be apparent that leading to sexual/physical violence. However, it was difficult to compare these findings with other studies because there is no existing literature on this issue.

Conclusion

This study found that sexual violence was committed against half of the female administrative staffs of Mekelle University. The typical perpetrators were bosses and workmates, and the common areas of violence were workplaces. The factors associated with sexual violence in this study were, younger age, high school and lower in educational status, office and students related workplace, having a night shift, having multiple partners and knowing other female violated in office.

Limitations of the study

  • Qualitative study is not included in the which was ideal to assess additional factors associated with sexual violence.

  • Lack of published papers on sexual violence which make this study to compare with other studies.