Sexual harassment of undergraduate female pharmacy students in Nigeria; prevalence, experiences and perception: a cross-sectional study

Purpose The perception of sexual harassment varies from culture to culture and from person to person. Due to the consequences of sexual harassment, it is of utmost importance to assess the perception of sexual harassment among undergraduate students of health sciences since they are future healthcare professionals. This study assessed sexual harassment prevalence, experiences, perceptions and its associated factors among undergraduate female pharmacy students. Design/methodology/approach This study was conducted in ten pharmacy schools in Nigeria with the aid of a validated structured self-administered questionnaire which was administrated as an online link through the WhatsApp platform. Data obtained was summarized using descriptive statistics. Chi-square was used to determine the association between the students' demographic characteristics and sexual harassment experiences, prevalence and perception while Pearson's correlation determined the correlation between the students' experiences and perception of sexual harassment and domains of sexual harassment. P-values of <0.05 were considered statistically significant. Findings A majority 352 (67.6%) of the respondents were between the age of 21 and 23 years and single (475, 91.2%). Over one-third, 211 (41.1%), of the respondents had experienced inappropriate sexual incidents. Gender harassment was the most prevalent form of sexual harassment. Most students perceived "a lecturer makes sexual advances to you in his office" (86.0%) and "a perceived strict lecturer frequently tries to touch you in a discomforting manner" (85.8%) as sexual harassment while 90% perceived dating a lecturer while in school as sexual misconduct. Age and ethnic groups were associated with the perception of sexual harassment (p = 0.003 and p < 0.0001 respectively). Gender harassment was associated with experiences of unwanted sexual attention and sexual coercion (p < 0.0001). Previous experience of an inappropriate sexual event was associated with gender harassment, experiences of unwanted sexual attention and sexual coercion (p < 0.0001). Originality/value Sexual harassment is prevalent in Nigerian pharmacy schools and gender harassment is the most prevalent form of it. Excessive physical contact from a male lecturer, sharing sexual fantasies and making sexual advances is perceived as sexual harassment by the undergraduate female pharmacy students. The students' perception of sexual harassment was influenced by their age and ethnicity.