The level of harassment among female students in Kirkuk University; a cross sectional study

Abstract

Background: Sexual harassment is a concerning phenomenon that has shown a surge in occurrence in recent years in Arabic countries. Aim: This study aims to assess the level of harassment and the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics and incidence of sexual harassment among female students in Kirkuk university. Methods: A cross sectional study design was conducted using a survey to assess the psychological distress as resultant from harassment among female students in different faculties in Kirkuk university. Results: From a total 707 female students with mean age 21.8 ± 2.8 from different faculties in Kirkuk university with majority of College of Sciences (21.6%, n= 153), and the highest percentage of female students is from fourth grade as reported among 30.6%, female students are exposed to low exposure of sexual harassment experience as reported by 74% of them (M±SD= 16.40±12.991), to note that 74% of female students are associated with low exposure to sexual harassment experience. Conclusion: The level of harassment among female students in Kirkuk university is moderate.