Gender Inequitable Norms and Its Associate among University Students in Southern Ethiopia

YIRGALEM TOLA, MPH Reproductive Health Arba Minch College of Health Science, Arba Minch,
Temesgen Mohammed, Department of Public Health, Aba Minch College of Health Science, Arba Minch, Ethiopia
Amanuel A Albene, Department of Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases, Armauer Hansen Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Inequitable gender norms characterize women as should be submissive while promoting men dominance. To achieve gender equality, ensuring equitable gender norms is a basis. Methods: Between October 25 and November 10, 2022, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among students in Ethiopia. Gender Equitable Men Scale was employed to evaluate attitudes toward gender norms. Data were loaded into Epi-Data and analyzed by SPSS software. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to find variables associated to gender norms. Result: Half of study participants (44.1%) had favorable inequitable gender norm attitude. Being male (AOR= 1.75, 95%CI: 1.19, 2.56), romantic relationship break-up (AOR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.14, 3.99), and poor gender equality attitude (AOR= 3,14, 95% CI: 2.15, 4.58) were factors associated with favorable inequitable gender norm attitude. Conclusions: A sizeable proportion of participants had favorable attitude towards gender-inequitable norms. The finding highlights the need to work rigorously to address identified factors.