Sexual Violence against Women Domestic Worker Clients at Harar Higher Sexual and Reproductive Health Model Clinic of Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to assess the general conditions of sexual violence experience among women domestic workers who are clients at Harar Higher Model SRH Clinic of the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia. Domestic work is a large and growing job opportunity for women globally. But, it is still a problematic sector. It is poorly a regulated and less protected sector. Women domestic workers (WDWs) are thus subjected to all forms violence, including sexual harassment. Various sociocultural and legal constraints increase the vulnerability of women domestic workers for sexual harassment in the line of domestic work. However, domestic workers are not given attention. A few researches have only been addressing the problem. The current study is believed to contribute to the knowledge gap in the study area and give insights for those responsible bodies standing to help them. This study is focused on WDWs in Harar town. It examined the magnitude and the common forms of sexual violence committed against WDWs who had been attendants of SRH service at Harar Higher Model Clinic of FGAE. It was concerned with identifying the main contributing factors of sexual harassment among the study subjects. It also assessed what consequences had incurred and how sexually assaulted WDWs responded to the different aspects of the problem. It collected crosssectional data using both qualitative and quantitative research methods. A total of 75 WDWs who had been attending at the Model SRH Clinic beginning from December 5, 2012 to June 10, 2013 were taken as sample in the study. A structured interview schedule was prepared and employed to collect pertinent primary quantitative data from the sample respondents. The researcher used in-depth interviews, semi-structured interviews, and FGD discussions with three case informants, key informants and discussants using interview guide/protocol, FGD schedule to collect primary data. In addition, observations and documentary analyses were used to generate qualitative data. The majority of WDWs were young, less-educated and rural-urban migrants. Significant number of them had no sexually secured bed room/place of rest in their employer’s home. Many of them were exposed to alcohol and other drugs. They worked until late at night. Seventy-two percent of them were sexually abused and harassed mainly by their employers. Rape was the commonest and worst form of sexual violence which was reported by 33.3% of assaulted WDWs. Many of WDWs developed RH-related complications, including unwanted pregnancy that led to abortion, STIs and vaginal trauma as results of rape. The vast majority of them exhibited psychological and mental related consequences of rape (such as depression, feel of ashamed, low level of self-esteem, and sometimes suicide). A job termination and blamed by others were also the main social and economic consequences for the raped WDWs in the study. Finally, those conclusive statements and plausible suggestions for social work action in the study should be effectively implemented in socio-cultural, as well as economic contexts.