GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AGAINST FEMALE STUDENTS AND THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to identify the cause of gender based violence against female students and the roles played by religious institutions in Eastern Ethiopian public universities. Descriptive survey research design was employed. The target population of the study was all graduating class regular female and male students of Haramaya, Dire Dawa and Jigjiga Universities. The researcher used simple random sampling technique to select colleges in the universities; stratified random sampling technique to take the number of students involved in the study from the selected colleges in these universities. Accordingly, a total of 395 students were taken as participants of the study. Questionnaire and interview were used as instruments to gather data. The quantitative data were analyzed through SPSS version 20. The qualitative data collected from interviewees were analyzed by thematic analysis method. The results of the study revealed that the status of GBV in the study areas were 79.4% of psychological, 68.7% of sexual and 57.1% of physical violence. In the present study psychological and sexual violence against female students were the common type of GBV. As Kruskal Wallis mean rank order test, watching pornographic film (n=217.07) is greater than in DDU than two. However, what makes chewing chat (204.39) and negative attitude towards female students (n= 204.32) are greater than in HU than the two universities. But multi-sexual partners (n=225.85) and watching pornographic film (n=210.19) are greater than in JJU. The majority (76%) of female respondents watched pornographic films. About 62.3% of female respondents were experienced chewing chat. From the total respondents 85.4% used alcohol. Among those watching pornographic film, smoking shisha and chewing chat were the major causes of GBV in the study areas. Watching pornographic film, chewing chat and drinking alcohol were significantly and independently associated with being female students among the present study areas. Eastern Ethiopian public Universities should create awareness and give training to their students about substance use related factors associated with GBV. Eastern Ethiopian public Universities administration should improve the security in the campus compounds to control substances abuse inside the campuses and take the necessary measures to minimize incidents of GBV in the campus compounds