Abstract:
Objective: This study investigated the prevalence and
incidence of Traditional (where a person in a position
of power harasses a subordinate) and contra power
sexual harassment, (where a subordinate is the harasser
of authority figure) in medical schools in Ghana.
among
Design: Cross-sectional study
Method: Four hundred and nine medical students from
four medical schools in Ghana were interviewed. We
also considered if academic and financial dependence
would predict either traditional or contra power sexual
harassment. We further investigated, whether women
were more bothered by sexual harassment than men
and the correlation between sexual harassment and
health.
Results: Women were 61% more likely to be sexually
harassed than men 39%. Sexual harassment negatively
affects the victims’ health outcome. We found that the
traditional form of sexual harassment was prevalent in
medical schools in Ghana and that academic
dependence predicted attacks. In the first and second
years, women at these institutions are more likely to be
sexually harassed than men.
Conclusion: Sexual harassment policies of medical
school need to be widely circulated. The various
medical schools should provide reporting procedures
and counseling for victims. This paper would inform
policy and research.