CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF GENDER BASED VIOLENCE AMONG HIGH SCHOOL FEMALESTUDENTS IN ATSBEWEMBERTA WOREDA, EASTERN ZONE OF TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a fundamental violation of human rights. It is one of the worst manifestations of gender-based discrimination, disproportionately affecting girls and women. GBV is a global phenomenon that knows no geographical, cultural, social, economic, ethnic, or other boundaries. The objective of the study was to assess the causes and consequences of gender-based violence among female high school students in Atsbewemberta woreda. The specific objective of this study was, to identify different forms of gender-based violence’s, to investigate the causes of gender-based violence, to examine the consequence of gender-based violence, and to recommend possible solutions to minimize gender-based violence in the study woreda. This study has a great significance to formulate policies and to raise awareness by different stake holders, The study adopted the descriptive statistical technique, and cross-sectional design. Both primary and secondary sources of data were applied (survey and key informant interview instruments). The researcher used both probably and non-probably sampling technique. The study applied both qualitative and quantitative methods to process data. Questionnaires and interview were used as data collection tools. The study findings revealed that gender-based violence in woreda Atsbwemberta influences female students academically, psychologically, socially, and others. Majority of the students faced gender-based violence, another finding is most of the students faced gender related violence by their relatives, friends’ teachers and mostly violated at their home, at way to their schools. The Most common violence in the woreda was early and forced marriage, rape and rape and others. This study concludes that the mentioned violence has different causes and have negative impact on academically, psychological, social and physical health of female students. The study recommended that the government should put in place measures to intensify sensitization in the high schools against gender-based violence especially through creating awareness for the community to elaborately identify different kinds of gender-based violence that would intimidate them silently. Bases on the study findings the study proposes a study should be carried out to investigate the negative impact of Gavin the communities especially in provision of quality of education.