Relationship between individual vulnerability attributes and sexual victimization among university students in Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya

Sexual victimization among university students has been rising despite the efforts put in place to address this social plague; a trend potentially exacerbated by inadequate and fragmented preventive strategies and information. While most studies have explored this pervasive phenomenon from socio-legal lenses, the influence of individual vulnerability attributes remains an imperative gap to be investigated. Focusing on this gap this study endeavored to examine the relationship between individual vulnerability attributes and sexual victimization among university students in Tharaka Nithi County. The study adopted a correlational research design. The target population was 27,005 university students in Tharaka Nithi County. From the population, 394 students were sampled by multistage sampling technique. Structured questionnaires and interview guides were the data collection instruments. A pilot study, involving 10% of the sample size, was conducted at Meru University of Science and Technology to assess the instruments' reliability and validity. A Cronbach Alpha Reliability of 0.791 was obtained, which exceeded the 0.75 threshold indicating the instruments were reliable. Quantitative data was analyzed by use of SPSS Version 27 and qualitative data was analyzed by use of Max QDA 2020 software. Spearman’s Rank Correlation analysis was employed to determine the relationship between individual vulnerability attributes and sexual victimization among university students in Tharaka Nithi County. The findings of the study indicated a positive relationship between individual vulnerability attributes and sexual victimization, ρ=0.548, p<0.01 tested at 0.05 significance level. The study recommended the need for university managements to create comprehensive awareness on sexual victimization with emphasis directed to individual vulnerability attributes to victimization. There is need for universities to put in place working reporting channels where cases of sexual victimization are reported and victims of sexual victimization assisted through counselling programs and other support services. Further, the study recommends a review of sexual misconduct policies in universities to cushion victims rather than blame them. The study also suggested that policies regarding alcohol and substance should be strictly enforced to prevent students from becoming susceptible to sexual victimization.