Magnitude and Factors Associated with Sexual Assault among individuals visiting Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Outpatient Department St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Sexual assault is a crime of violence and aggression and include any sexual activity that range from sexual coercion to contact abuse like unwanted kissing, touching and fondling to rape. Despite being a hot public health problem it is increasing at an alarming rate Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey 2016 reported that 10% of women, aged 15–49 in Ethiopia have experienced sexual violence and more than one-third of ever-married women reported some form of Gender based violence. Objectives: To determine the magnitude and factors associated with sexual assault among individuals visiting Forensic Medicine and Toxicology outpatient clinic. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study design was conducted. All consented individuals visiting the forensic clinic were interviewed during the study period. Self administered questioner developed from WHO and sexual assault certificate was used for socio demographic data and history of sexual assault. Record was reviewed for physical examination, investigations and intervention of survivors. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted for socio-demographic and sexual assault related characteristics. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with sexual assault. All the data analysis was done by using SPSS 23.0 version. Result: Magnitude of sexual assault among individuals visiting FMT OPD was 44.2%. Commonest type of sexual assault was rape (89%.2). Most of the assailant was known by the survivors. Age[AOR=91.402 (CI: 2.507-3332.640)], gender[AOR=0.001 (CI: 0.000-0.008)], income[AOR=14.255 (CI: 3.433-59.191)], occupation[AOR=10.436 (CI: 2.532-43.009)], residence [AOR=271 (CI: 0.080-0.918)] and family size[AOR=.290 (CI: 0.092-0.915)] were significantly associated factors for sexual assault in binary logistic regression. Conclusion: The magnitude of sexual assault was high in this study. Age, gender, address, occupation, family size and monthly income were associated with sexual assault. Keywords: Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Magnitude, socio-demographic factors