Relevance of Strategies in Addressing Sexual Violence among Students in Selected Secondary Schools in Mzimba District, Malawi

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the implementation of strategies for addressing sexual violence among students in selected secondary schools of Mzimba district. The study was conducted in three secondary schools in Mzimba district, Northern region of Malawi. The study participants were teachers, students, deputy head teachers, head teachers, and gender officers. A total of 54 participants, comprising 24 teachers, 24 students, 3 deputy head teachers, 2 head teachers, and 1 gender officer, were involved. The study used a qualitative research approach. Six focus group discussions, six interviews, and a documentary analysis revealed the strategies used in addressing sexual violence among students at school, how they are implemented, their relevance, and challenges related to implementation. Guidance and counselling, as well as sexual education, were the most mentioned strategies. All the participants, representing 100% of the total participants, agreed that guidance counselling and sexual education are strategies used to address sexual violence among students in secondary schools. The last mentioned strategy, with 35 % of the total respondents, was the teachers’ codes of ethics. On the effectiveness of the strategies, guidance, and counselling were found to be the most effective, with the highest score of 7 during the pairwise ranking with teachers. The least effective strategy was professional development. Effective implementation of the strategies was possible with the involvement and collaboration of different school actors. Implementation of the strategies was reported to have a tremendous positive impact in addressing sexual violence among students in schools. Increased awareness of sexual violence issues was the most reported relevance for implementing the strategies, with 100 % agreeing. Increased reporting of sexual violence issues was the least mentioned relevance of the strategies, with 40 respondents representing 74% of the total respondents. Implementing strategies in schools to address sexual violence among students in secondary schools shares a common goal of the education needs as well as social development of the students. Hence, the researchers conclude that effective implementation of the strategies effectively addresses sexual violence among 61 students in secondary schools. Policymakers, school administrators, and education stakeholders can effectively use the findings of this study in the efforts to eradicate sexual violence among students in secondary schools. Moreover, training of teachers on sexual violence issues, provision of support including safety to victims, and psycho-social support to the perpetrators are significant recommendations for the study.