PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL VIOLENCE AMONG FEMALE HOUSEMAIDS ATTENDING EVENING PRIMARY PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN HAWASSA CITY, SIDAMA, ETHIOPIA: A MIXED METHOD STUDY.

Abstract

Introduction: Threats of rape, attempted rape, rape, sexual harassment, and coerced sexual contact are examples of sexual violence. One of the groups of workers most at risk from sexual violence worldwide is the housemaid. Sexual violence against housemaids remains usually concealed as victims cannot report such offences. This study aims to assess prevalence and factor associated with sexual violence among female housemaid attending evening public schools in Hawassa city, Sidama region, Ethiopia. Objectives. This study intended to assess the prevalence and factors associated with sexual violence among housemaids attending evening primary public schools at Hawasa 2024. Method. School-based cross-sectional study complemented with qualitative approach was conducted among 405 housemaids and 13 purposely selected participant. Simple random sampling was used for the quantitative part while purposive sampling was done to select key informants. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire by Kobo Collect for quantitative study then exported to SPSS, while key-informant interview using semi structured interview guide was used for the qualitative study. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were done to assess the association between independent and dependent variables. The strength of association was determined using the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with their corresponding 95 % confidence interval. P-values of <0.05 were used to declare statistical significance. Tables and diagrammatical presentation were used, and mean with standard deviation were used to interpret continuous variables. ATLAS.ti was used for qualitative data analysis. Finally, the finding was explained by triangulating with the quantitative findings in the result. Result: The prevalence of sexual violence among was 67.9% (95% CI: 63%-72%). The odd of sexual violence was higher among housemaids whose agreement were daily (AOR=11.173, 95% CI =1.220, 15.298), there employer drunk alcohol (4.174, 95% CI = 1.851, 9.416), housemaids origin from rural area (AOR= 2.95 (1.56, 5.55), whereas housemaid living with another housemaid in the household were less likely to face sexual violence (AOR=0.429, 95% CI = 0.218, 0.844). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of sexual violence among housemaids. Types of agreement, origin of the housemaid, and presence of other housemaid and employers alcohol consumption were significantly associated with sexual violence.