SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HOUSEMAIDS ATTENDING EVENING SCHOOLS IN URBAN SETUPS OF GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA 2019: A SCHOOL BASED CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

ABSTRACT Introduction: Housemaids are the most vulnerable group to sexual violence due to their working condition, isolation and their school arrangements. Even though evidence suggests that sexual violence is the common phenomena of domestic work sector, it is a neglected area of research particularly in Ethiopia including the study area. Objective: To assess the prevalence and factors associated to sexual violence among housemaids attending evening school program in urban setups of Gedeo zone, Southern, Ethiopia 2019. Method: A school based cross sectional study design supplemented with qualitative inquiry was used to collect data among 394 randomly selected housemaids attending night schools in urban setups of Gedeo Zone from April to May 2019. Quantitative data was collected using face to face interview then entered using EPI DATA 3.1 and analyzed by using SPSS version 20 application software. Binary logistic regression was fitted to determine the association of each independent variable with the dependent variable. For qualitative inquiry focus group discussion, in-depth interview, key informant interviews were performed among purposively selected respondents. After the collected information was transcribed, translated, coded and categorized, thematic analysis was employed and the result was finally used to explain and augment the results of quantitative findings. Result: The study revealed that, the prevalence of life time sexual violence among house maids attending night schools in urban setups of Gedeo zone was 60.2%,of these 11.2% were raped ,19% faced an attempted rape and 58.4% were reported to have faced sexual harassment .The odds of experiencing sexual violence in working life time as housemaid were lower for those who were not involved in a relationship currently [AOR.=0.28: 95% CI ,( 0.13 , 0.57 )] ,but higher for those whose childhood residence were rural [AOR =1.97: 95 % CI ,(1.07,3.63 )] ,have less than 5 years of experience as housemaid [ AOR = 3.10 : 95 % CI , ( 1.60 , 6.00 ) ] , age 15-19 [ AOR = 3.75 :95 % CI (1.88 ,7.46 ) , used Alcohol [ AOR = 6.77 : 95 % CI,( 2.65,17.33)] and fathers did not have formal education [AOR= 2.75 :95%CI,( 1.24,6.08)]. From qualitative finding being night student, having boyfriend, being young, being new to the environment, drinking alcohol were exposing housemaids to sexual violence Conclusion and recommendation: life time Sexual violence was found to be a problem among housemaids attending night schools in urban setups of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia in this study. Involvement in a relationship, childhood residence, work experience as housemaid, age of i a housemaid, life time alcohol use by housemaid, and father educational status were factors associated with life time sexual violence. To overcome the problem Gedeo zone women, children and youth affairs, Gedeo zone labour and social affair, social Medias and non-governmental organizations should work with greatest accountability for housemaids in terms of protection.