International Journal of
Nursing and Midwifery

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Nurs. Midwifery
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2456
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJNM
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 213

Full Length Research Paper

Experience of sexual harassment and coping strategies among students of the school of nursing of a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria

Oyedunni Sola Arulogun
  • Oyedunni Sola Arulogun
  • Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
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Isaac Kayode Omotosho
  • Isaac Kayode Omotosho
  • Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Stores Department, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
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Musibau Ayoade Titiloye
  • Musibau Ayoade Titiloye
  • Department of Health Promotion and Education, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
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  •  Accepted: 21 April 2013
  •  Published: 30 May 2013

Abstract

 

This descriptive cross-sectional study documented the experience of sexual harassment (SH) and coping strategies among 250 consenting students of University College Hospital, Ibadan school of nursing, using a pre-tested questionnaire.Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data at 5% level of significance. Mean age was 23.0 ± 4.1 years, 78.8% were females and 91.2% perceived SH to be common in the school. Fifty-eight percent of respondents (20.0% males, 80.0% females) had ever been sexually harassed. Main perpetrators of SH against females were male resident doctors (24.5%) and male patients (11.3%) while female colleagues (44.8%) and female patients (20.7%) were for males. Types of SH experienced were unwanted body contact (79.3%), breast contact (67.6%), enticement (45.5%), attempted rape (39.3%) and unwanted kiss (26.3%). Attending parties and mode of dressing were positively associated with experience of SH. Main coping strategies employed were reporting to school authority, ignoring the perpetrator, confrontation and breaking up the relationship. Sexual harassment is prevalent among the students studied, with females more affected. Coping strategies adopted were adjudged ineffective. Institutional based interventions such as sensitization, capacity building on coping strategy skills, legislation and policy reviews are needed to address these concerns.

 

Key words: Sexual harassment, nursing students, coping strategies.