Thesis (MPH) --University of Limpopo, 2012. / Background: Little is known about sexual coercive behaviour at colleges and campuses across South Africa. Research in this area has primarily been conducted in the United States of America. Sexual violence against women is a serious public health issue that may result in unwanted pregnancies, complications as a result of termination of
pregnancies, increased risk of sexually transmitted infections, physical abuse by partners, substance use and an array of emotional and psychological problems. The negative
consequences of sexual coercive behaviour may have an added negative impact on academic performance; which increase the burden of disease in South Africa. The aim of this study was to gain insight into sexual coercion among students in a South African university in order ~o augment the current knowledge on this phenomenon and to be an impetus for further research
Method: This cross-sectional study investigated sexual coercion and possible predictors of sexual coercion at the University of Limpopo: Medunsa Campus. Using a systematic
random sampling, the Sexual Experiences Survey was administered to female undergraduate students registered for the 2010 academic year.
Results: A total of 335 students participated in this study. A sexual coercion incidence of 27.16 % within the past year, and a sexual coercion prevalence of28.74% since age 14 was found. Rape was the most common unwanted sexual act reported by respondents. Half of the respondents that were raped sihce age 14 were raped again within the past 12
months. Date rape was the least unwanted sexual act experienced by respondents. Age, nationality, years at Medunsa and sexual orientation did not influence susceptibility to sexual coercion. However, residing on campus increases the likelihood of attempted
verbal coercion twofold.
Conclusion: Particular attention needs to be given to rape as it has the most deleterious
medical, psychological and social repercussions. The majority of perpetrators of rape are not intimate partners, therefore developing and implementing strategies to reduce sexual coercion becomes challenging. In addition, those students who reside on campus are
especially vulnerable to attempted verbal coercion, which can easily escalate into unwanted sexual intercourse.
Recommendations: Consistent implementation of laws governing sexual violence against women and children, intolerance of policing authorities to the culture of violence that is endemic to South Africa, improved psychological resources on campus, emphasis on the laws governing the conduct of students and alternative constructions of discourses
relating to sexual rights are needed to curb this public health issue in South Africa. Keywords: sexual coercion, female students, gender inequality, violence, sexual and
mental health, law implementation, resources.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:ul/oai:ulspace.ul.ac.za:10386/687 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Menoe, Bronwyn |
| Contributors | Mokgatle-Nthabu, Mathilda |
| Publisher | University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Relation | Adobe Acrobat Reader, version 6.0 |
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