Acoso sexual experimentado por estudiantes universitarios ecuatorianos: prevalencia, impacto y acciones institucionales

This study addresses sexual harassment at the Technical University of Machala, aiming to examine its prevalence, characteristics, and emotional effects on students. Quantitative research with descriptive, exploratory, and explanatory scopes, conducted on a simple random sample of 776 university students, who were administered the ASIES instrument to collect data, which has been previously validated in the Ecuadorian context. The results reveal that a significant fraction of the students have experienced harassment, with verbal and non-verbal behaviors predominating, and women reporting a higher incidence. It was observed that,despite the implemented policies, there is still a lack of knowledge about the resources and reporting procedures. We conclude that it is essential to expand the research and improve information dissemination to address this issue, in addition to emphasizingthe need for educational and prevention strategies that promote a safe and inclusive university environment for all genders.