Knowledge and experience of gender based violence among secondary level students

Abstract

Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a violence that is directed at an individual based on his or her gender identity. In our context, little known about knowledge and experience of such type of violence among secondary level students. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and experiences of gender based violence among secondary level students of selected school of Pokhara. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 115 sample of the study. Data was collected by using semi-structure self-administered questionnaire technique. Collected data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics. Majority of the respondent (80%) had heard about Gender Based Violence. About half (51.3%) of respondents told violence against both male and female in the meaning of gender based violence. Maximum of the respondent heard about beaten (94.8 %) followed by dowry (94.8%), accusing of witchcraft (92.2%) are type of gender based violence. Likewise, half of the respondent heard about abortion is the type of gender based violence. Similarly, partial of the respondent (51.3%) had adequate knowledge about Gender Based Violence. Majority of the respondents were experienced psychological violence (70.4%) followed by physical (58.3%) and sexual violence (29.6%). Friends and teachers are main perpetrators of psychological and physical violence, whereas boyfriends/girlfriends, friends and unknown persons are main perpetrators in sexual violence. Male respondents had adequate knowledge then female. Caste and ethnic group of society also affect the violence. Brahmin had more adequate knowledge than Dalit ethnic group. Respondents from educated parents had adequate knowledge then uneducated parents. Female had more experience of sexual and psychological violence whereas male had more experience of physical violence. Those parents' works as a labor had more experienced of psychological and physical violence but less experience in sexual violence.

Age, sex, education, education of parents, occupation of parents, family type are the most common associated factors in the knowledge and experience about Gender Based Violence. In spite of the depiction of laws to protect the violence, the Gender Based Violence quiet occurs in enormous number in society. So awareness programme is essential.