BACKGROUND: Experiences of sexual violence in adolescence and young adulthood have received little attention in Chilean public health research and practice. AIM: To describe the prevalence and contexts of sexual violence victimization in a sample of university students in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A self-administered, quantitative survey including items on sexual violence was completed by 484 female and 466 male students at a public university in Chile in 2005. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of women and 21 % of men reported having experienced at least one incident of sexual violence since age 14; the corresponding percentages for the past 12 months were 17% and 12%, respectively. The perpetrators were identified predominantly as an acquaintance; another important fraction corresponded to a partner or a date. Alcohol or other substances were involved in most cases. Among students who indicated having been assaulted, the incident was reported to the police by none of the men and 2% of women. Twenty one percent of women and 9% of men reported having experienced sexual violence before age 14. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of sexual violence found in this study indicates that this issue merits further public health attention in Chile.
BACKGROUND: Experiences of sexual violence in adolescence and young adulthood have received little attention in Chilean public health research and practice. AIM: To describe the prevalence and contexts of sexual violence victimization in a sample of university students in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A self-administered, quantitative survey including items on sexual violence was completed by 484 female and 466 male students at a public university in Chile in 2005. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent of women and 21 % of men reported having experienced at least one incident of sexual violence since age 14; the corresponding percentages for the past 12 months were 17% and 12%, respectively. The perpetrators were identified predominantly as an acquaintance; another important fraction corresponded to a partner or a date. Alcohol or other substances were involved in most cases. Among students who indicated having been assaulted, the incident was reported to the police by none of the men and 2% of women. Twenty one percent of women and 9% of men reported having experienced sexual violence before age 14. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of sexual violence found in this study indicates that this issue merits further public health attention in Chile.