ArticlePloS one2021
Factors associated with female students' past year experience of sexual violence in South African public higher education settings: A cross-sectional study.
Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 17 citations in OpenAlex.
- Ntombi Vimbela! Sexual violence risk reduction intervention: pre and one-year post assessments from a single arm pilot feasibility study among female students in South Africa.BMC public health · 2023Trial
- Sexual Violence Against University Students in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review.Trauma, violence & abuse · 2026Article
- Drivers of psychological distress among first year female public university students in South Africa: A qualitative exploratory study.PLOS mental health · 2026Article
- The Impact of Smartphone Addiction on PTSD Symptoms Among South African University Students: Resilience as a Protective Factor.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Characteristics of higher education students who reported sexual violence: a Nigerian national study.BMC public health · 2024Article
- Association between sexual violence and depression is mediated by perceived social support among female university students in the kingdom of Eswatini.BMC public health · 2024Article
- "I Don't Want to Be Known as a Weak Man": Insights and Rationalizations by Male Students on Men's Sexual Violence Perpetration against Female Students on Campus.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- The interrelationship between food security, climate change, and gender-based violence: A scoping review with system dynamics modeling.PLOS global public health · 2023Article
- Suicidal Thoughts, Depression, Post-Traumatic Stress, and Harmful Alcohol Use Associated with Intimate Partner Violence and Rape Exposures among Female Students in South Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIntimate partner sexual violence and non-partner rape experiences are widely reported by female students in South African higher education institutions, as they are globally. However, limited research has focused on investigating vulnerability factors, which is vital for informing interventions.
objectiveTo describe the factors and inter-relationships associated with female students' increased vulnerability to past year experience of partner sexual violence and non-partner rape in South African higher education settings.
methodsWe interviewed 1293 female students, i.e., 519 students in six Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college campuses and 774 students at three university campuses. Participants were volunteers aged 18-30. The measured vulnerability factors included childhood sexual abuse, other trauma, mental ill-health, risky sexual behaviours, food insecurity, partner violence, and controlling behaviours. We used bivariate analysis, logistic regression, and structural equation modelling methods.
resultsTwenty percent of participants experienced past-year sexual violence (17% partner sexual violence and 7.5% non-partner rape). Childhood sexual abuse had direct effects on experiencing past year sexual violence and physical, emotional partner violence or controlling behaviours. Risky sexual behaviours mediated the relationships of childhood sexual abuse or harmful alcohol use and past-year sexual violence experience. Mental ill-health mediated the relationships between childhood sexual abuse, other traumatic exposures, food insecurity, physical, emotional partner violence or controlling behaviours, and past-year partner sexual violence or non-partner rape experience.
conclusionsRisky sexual behaviours, gender inequitable relationship dynamics, mental ill-health, and food insecurity are related and amenable vulnerability factors associated with female students' sexual violence experiences. Therefore, addressing these through comprehensive campus interventions, which are implemented when students first enrol in higher education and are most vulnerable to sexual violence, is critical. Society-wide sexual violence prevention is also imperative.
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