ABSTRACT

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify different forms of sexual harassment that female medical students face, environment in which it is most prevalent, effects on future career choices, and determine steps to mitigate workplace sexual harassment.
Study Design: Cross sectional study design.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at Department of Community Medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi from 1^st   February, 2020 to 1^st March, 2020.
Materials and Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional descriptive design was used in this study. The target population of the study was registered female students at Rawalpindi Medical University, with a sample size of 166. Questionnaire was used for data collection and data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23.0 program. The basic ethical principles were observed, and the ethical clearance certificate was obtained prior to data collection.
Results: According to our study, highest number of respondents were 3rd year students (46), 81% reported that they have experienced any form of sexual harassment, 42% reported fear of it happening in their personal context in medical institute, 83% said that it may influence their future career choices. Most frequent form of sexual harassment they experienced is starring and leering (72%), while most susceptible / vulnerable time is during night (62%), college transport buses are reported as the most frequent place (15%), conductors and drivers are the most common perpetrators (24%). In our study, major barrier in low reporting of sexual harassment is fear of victimization (34%).
Conclusion: This study shows that female students in university are experiencing different forms of sexual harassment.

Key Words: Female Medical Students, Public Medical College, Sexual Harassment.

How to cite this: Ali U, Sabir SA, Sharif B. Knowledge, Distribution, Dimensions and Barriers in Reporting of Sexual Harassment in Female Medical Students of Public College of Rawalpindi. Life and Science. 2022; 3(1): 45-48.  doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.205