Determinants of sexual violence among women in Uganda

Abstract

Sexual violence (SV) is a national public health problem in Uganda. Victims of sexual violence experience physical, social, mental, emotional, and sexual problems Because of its severe psychological and sociological impact on the victim, sexual violence further escalates feelings of helplessness and weakness that can drain the victim's self-esteem and fuel a sense of vulnerability in the face of subsequent sexual violence. Therefore, this study's aim was to assess the determinants of sexual violence among women in Uganda. The study used secondary data from 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys (UDHS) dataset. Data was analyzed at univariate, bivariate and multivariate level using stata version 15.0 and presented in tables. The study found out that place of residence was associated with sexual violence among women in Uganda. Women in rural areas were more likely to experience sexual violence as compared to their counter parts in urban areas. The study also revealed that women’s occupation has a significant relationship with sexual violence. Women doing professional jobs, agriculture and self-employed jobs and manual jobs were more likely to experience sexual violence as compared to their counter parts who were not working. Also the study revealed that husband/partners' alcohol consumption had a significant relationship with sexual violence. Therefore, based on the study findings, the study recommended that There's need for women empowerment in rural communities and this could be through creation of jobs for women in rural communities to ensure sustainable income amongst this would reduce on the sexual violence act that occur due to demand for money among the poor women. Continuous sensitization about the dangers of sexual violence like rape, defilement in rural areas of Uganda is also needed as this would increase on the awareness and reduce on the sexual violence act in rural communities. Strict rules on alcohol use and punishing the perpetrators of sexual violence under the influence alcohol in rural communities should be enforced by the community leaders as this would reduce on sexual violence and scare others from repeating the same mistakes.