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- Title
Perception about women and attitude towards a rape victim -- a cross sectional study.
- Authors
G., Jayalakshmi; Choudhari, Sriniwas B.; Mutalik, Narayan R.; Bhogale, Govind S.
- Abstract
Background: Rape is a social and human rights concern which is on the rise. According to the National Crime Records Bureau 2015 annual report, 34,651 rape cases were reported across India. As with any issue of this magnitude, there are bound to be differing attitudes towards rape. Aim: This study was aimed at assessing the attitudes of medical students towards women, their attitude towards rape victims, levels of rape myths acceptance, and associations between knowledge and attitudes, focusing on gender, age differences and inters factor relations. Methods: In November 2016, a cross-sectional study was undertaken. Participants were 400 medical students ranging from age 18 to 37 years, who responded to self-reported Questionnaires of Updated Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale (IRMA), Attitudes Towards Women Scale Short Form(AWS-SF), Attitudes toward Rape Victim Scale (ARVS),Compiled data was presented in percentages for qualitative data, Means and Standard deviations for quantitative data. Further Quantitative data analysis was carried out to assess associations between gender, age, demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitudes towards rape victim, examine gender differences in participants' scores on the AWS-SF. Results: A total of 362 medical students completed self-reported questionnaires. Majority (184) of the students were female. Though acceptance of rape myths was present (25.7%), significant number of students (28.1%) rejected rape myths. Female students (33.1%) were more likely to accept rape myths when compared to male students (18.5%). Female students had more(26.6%) egalitarian attitude than male (22.5%). Male students had more(23.6%) negative attitude towards rape victims than female students (19%). Respondents' gender, age and level of education were associated with the attitudes towards rape victims. Conclusion: The present study showed that age and education level influence attitude towards rape victims. Younger age and female gender are associated with more egalitarian attitude. Male gender and increasing age were associated with greater rejection of rape myths. Female gender, increasing age, married status had accepting attitude towards rape victims. These results are important considering medical students are at the point of care where rape victims come for support. Interventions to improve their knowledge are necessary for better care.
- Subjects
INDIA; RAPE victims; MEDICAL students; CRIMES against women
- Publication
Medica Innovatica, 2016, Vol 5, Issue 2, p22
- ISSN
2278-7526
- Publication type
Article