Publication: Empowerment of School Adolescents for Prevention of Gender Discrimination and Sexual Harassment: Application of an Integrated Experiential Learning Package
Date
2024
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Nepal Health Research Council
Abstract
Background: The prevalence of gender discrimination and sexual harassment/ violence among children is alarmingly high in Nepal. This study aimed to measure aggregate changes in knowledge, attitude, and skills among school adolescents on gender discrimination; sexual harassment, mindfulness of breathing; and self-defense skills, with application of an integrative experiential learning modules.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was carried out among 3661 students from 8-9 grades (1880 intervention and 1781 control) in 52 community schools across the seven provinces. Pre- and post-intervention self-reported surveys were conducted among the intervention and control groups before and after intervention of 24 learning hours. We used a mixed two-way effects model to measure the changes in composite indices between pretest and posttest among both the groups.
Results: We found statistically significant increment (P<0.0001) in knowledge, attitude and skills on gender norms, gender discrimination, sexual harassment, self-defense, reporting sexual harassment, legal measures and mindfulness of breathing technique among the intervention group compared to that in the control group.
Conclusions: These findings, though measured immediately after the intervention, offer initial evidence that school adolescents could be empowered to prevent the risks of gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
Keywords: Empowerment; gender discrimination; school-based intervention; sexual harassment; self-defense.
Description
Rita Thapa
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal
Raj Kumar Subedi
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bindu Pun
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sunita Kumari Chand
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dip Narayan Thakur
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7445-2726
Radhika Thapaliya
Ministry of Health and Population, Nepal
Sarita Karki
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal
Gorakh Regmi
Bhaskar-Tejshree Memorial Foundation, Kathmandu, Nepal
Vikrant Pandey
Fightback Nepal, Lalitpur, Nepal