Sexual harassment among higher education students: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Introduction: Sexual harassment is a major problem in higher education systems worldwide with major impacts on students. This study aims to describe and synthesise quantitative data on sexual harassment prevalence among higher education students. Methods: We searched seven databases. We included studies published in English and French from 2000 until 2023 if they measured sexual harassment prevalence on students attending higher education, and they were quantitative cross-sectional studies. Prevalence estimates disaggregated by gender identity and world region were meta-analysed using a random effects model and reported following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidance. Results: We identified 53 articles, from six different world regions. The meta-analysed prevalence of sexual harassment was 43.7% for women, 16.8% for men, 33.4% for transgender and gender diverse people and 38.2% for healthcare students. The Eastern Mediterranean region had the highest prevalence estimates for women’s sexual harassment, and the Region of the Americas had the highest prevalence estimates for men’s sexual harassment. Conclusions: Higher education institutions, especially in low and middle-income countries, should commit to the conduct of surveys to monitor the prevalence of sexual harassment, and policymakers should allocate specific funds and resources to support the implementation of sexual harassment prevention and intervention initiatives in higher education, prioritising the safety and wellbeing of students.