article · Trauma Violence & Abuse
Sexual violence on university campuses in sub-Saharan Africa represents a pervasive issue with high reported rates, yet evidence has lacked comprehensive synthesis. A scoping review of literature published between 2014 and 2023 across nine academic databases examined prevalence, types, risk factors, consequences, victims, and perpetrators. Out of 543 identified records, 82 met inclusion criteria, though they covered only one-third of the region and predominantly focused on female victims. Reported prevalence varied substantially across countries due to differences in definitions, time frames, and assessment tools. Young female students were the most common victims, with male students and male teachers identified as the primary perpetrators. Risk and protective factors were mapped across a socio-ecological model. Although sexual violence results in significant health, social, and economic consequences, victims rarely seek help from either authorities or informal sources.
Sexual violence affects student well-being, health, and academic participation across universities in sub-Saharan Africa. Understanding the common patterns, perpetrators, and institutional gaps helps university administrators, student welfare organisations, and policymakers develop targeted reporting mechanisms and support services, ensuring campuses become safer environments where victims can access essential help without encountering persistent barriers.
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Sexual violence (SV) is pervasive on university campuses worldwide, with alarmingly high reported rates in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite the high reported rates of SV victimization on campuses, existing evidence has not been critically synthesized to give a comprehensive picture of the problem’s extent, common forms, risk factors, and (knowledge about) victims and perpetrators in SSA countries. We aimed to map the existing literature on SV prevalence, types, risk factors, victims, perpetrators, and consequences among university students on campuses in SSA. We included articles focusing on university students from SSA countries published in English or French language from 2014 to 2023. We identified 543 records from nine databases; Academic Search Premier; CINAHL; EMBASE; MEDLINE; PsychINFO; PubMed; Scopus; SocINDEX ; and Web of Science , 82 of which met our inclusion criteria. Retrieved articles covered only one-third of the sub-Saharan region, mostly focusing on female students and victims. Prevalence of different forms of SV varied among countries; authors attributed these variations to differences in time frame, forms of SV, how they were defined, and the tools used. Young female students were identified as common victims, while male teachers and students were common perpetrators. We used the socio-ecological model to summarize risk and protective factors associated with SV victimization and listed the health, social, and economic consequences of SV victimization. Despite these consequences, victims rarely seek help, whether from informal sources or authorities. We call for comprehensive studies in SSA that include both genders and focusing on victims and perpetrators, and address service access barriers.
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DOI: 10.1177/15248380251320980
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