Bystander Attitudes And Behaviors Related To Sexual And Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Among Undergraduate Students At The University Of Ghana, Legon Campus

Abstract

Background: In Ghana and worldwide, intimate partner violence and sexual assault are costly problems for women's health. Female college students are disproportionately targeted for these incidents. Previous interventions and programs on college campuses focused on victims and perpetrators without taking sufficient advantage of the potential for intervention by witnessing bystanders. Therefore, it is vital to assess college students' current bystander attitudes and behaviors regarding sexual and intimate partner violence. Objective: This research sought to assess the attitudes and behaviors related to intervening as a bystander towards sexual and intimate partner violence among students at the University of Ghana (UG) Legon campus. Method: A descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study involving 477 male and female undergraduate students in the University of Ghana, Legon campus residences, using structured questionnaires was conducted. Descriptive statistics were determined for all outcomes and the strength of associations between variables tested using Pearson’s Chi square test and logistic regression analysis with STATA version 16. Results: The study involved 407 responding undergraduate students who are resident on the University of Ghana Legon campus. Of these, males made up more than half (51.6%), and 67.0% of all respondents were between ages 21 and 25 years. Majority of the respondents (66.3%) received an allowance ranging from 0 - 500 GH₵ every month. The proportion of respondents with positive bystander attitude towards sexual and intimate partner violence was 59.9% (p = 59.9%, 95% CI = 55.0% - 64.7%). Female respondents had significantly 2.16 times the odds of being positive bystanders as compared to males (aOR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.39 – 3.33; p = 0.001). Also, males compared to females were more likely to agree to statements that seem to suggest that victims of sexual or intimate partner violence are to be blamed for the act. Respondents with a monthly allowance between 501 – 1000 GH₵ were 2.00 times more likely to be positive bystanders as compared to those with a lower monthly allowance of 0 - 500 GH₵ (aOR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.26 – 3.50; p = 0.004). Conclusion: The proportion of students with positive bystander attitude towards sexual and intimate partner violence in Legon was 59.9%. Predictors of positive bystander attitude towards sexual and intimate partner violence were being friends with the victims, being a female bystander and having a monthly allowance of 501 – 1000 GH₵. There is a need to establish gender-tailored bystander sensitization programs and curriculum electives to improve the overall positive bystander attitudes among the students in Legon towards intimate partner and sexual violence.