SEXUAL HARASSMENT AMONG FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS IN BANGKOK THAILAND

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to assess the occurrences of sexual harassment and factors that influencing to sexual harassment among female undergraduate students in Bangkok, Thailand. This research was conducted as a cross-sectional study design on 440 subjects of female undergraduate students in Bangkok. The multistage sampling technique was used to recruit the participants and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis by Fisher’s Exact, Chi-square test, and logistic regression were used. The results indicated that the occurrence of sexual harassment was 74.3% particularly, verbal harassment. In term of perception, 70% of respondents had high perception. Risk behaviors, 91.6% of them performed risk behaviors at low level. Many socio-demographic characteristics were associated to perception, risk behavior, and occurrence, particularly alcohol consumption that was related to all. Results from multivariable analysis revealed that 3 factors were associated with occurrence of sexual harassment; body shape, part-time job, and alcohol consumption were highly significant association (p < 0.05). The finding from the study highlighted the campaign and awareness rising toward sexual harassment should be conducted. The academic institutions should have some effective measures or regulations to prevent sexual harassment. Penalty or punishment to the harassers should be strictly enforced. The further study should expand the survey to other universities in regions or in provincial areas since the sexual harassment occurrences was high.