Abstract
There is limited literature on sexual coercion/harassment of university students with disabilities, hence we, explored this phenomenon in Ghana, using a sequential explanatory-mixed method design that involved 119 (62 males and 57 females) students with various disabilities in the quantitative study and 12 (7 females and 5 males) students in the qualitative phase using questionnaire and interview guide for data collection respectively. We found that participants were not aware of the university’s sexual coercion/harassment policy nor involved in its formulation/dissemination. Persistently asking for sexual relationships, pressurized for outings, attempted/forced kissing, being sexually looked at, engaging in uncomfortable sexual conversations, and sexually provocative touch were common. The main perpetrators of these acts included physically able people (24.4%), colleagues with disabilities (14.3%), and Lecturers/Administrative staff (10.9%). We recommend policies and programs’ strengthening to protect students with disabilities from such unwarranted acts.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 798-815 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy |
| Volume | 49 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Early online date | 18 May 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 18 May 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Funding
We are sincerely grateful to all institutions, individuals and the participants for the various roles they played in doing this paper. There was funding for this study.
Keywords
- Disabilities
- coercion
- Ghana
- harassment
- sex
- students
- university
