Prevention of sexual violence in the public university in Guatemala–qualitative survey on suggestions from students

Lyons, M ORCID: 0000-0002-9553-9767, Dávila, N, Reyes-Rodriguez, MF, Gandolfo Conceição, MI, Castro-Caicedo, JS and García, GG (2026) Prevention of sexual violence in the public university in Guatemala–qualitative survey on suggestions from students. Global Public Health, 21 (1). p. 2749290. ISSN 1744-1692

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Abstract

Sexual violence is a global problem in higher education, with multiple adverse academic, social, and health outcomes. Universities can take several primary and secondary preventative actions to combat violence. The stakeholder (i.e. student) suggestions for universities have received some interest, but mainly in English-speaking, high-income countries. In this study, we report the findings of a qualitative survey in a middle-income Central American country, Guatemala. In an online study, students from the public university (N = 863) expressed their ideas on how to prevent sexual violence in the university. We analysed the data with the aid of inductive thematic analysis, creating four themes. The results highlighted how students thought that the university should take a major role in preventing and intervening in sexual violence. They also perceived collective action between students as an effective prevention strategy. Some ideas were gendered, shifting the responsibility to women (i.e. changing their behaviours/attire) and men (i.e. moral education about sexual conduct). The students also suggested how individual bystanders could address the situations with their actions. We discuss the results with reference to the global literature, as well as to the specific context of Guatemala.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Guatemala; qualitative; sexual violence prevention; student suggestions; university; Humans; Guatemala; Universities; Female; Students; Sex Offenses; Qualitative Research; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Adult; Academia; Adolescent; 4407 Policy and Administration; 44 Human Society; Social Determinants of Health; Violence Against Women; Behavioral and Social Science; Prevention; Women's Health; Violence Research; 3.1 Primary prevention interventions to modify behaviours or promote wellbeing; 4 Quality Education; Humans; Guatemala; Universities; Female; Students; Sex Offenses; Qualitative Research; Male; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult; Adult; Academia; Adolescent; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; Public Health; 4202 Epidemiology; 4206 Public health; 4407 Policy and administration
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform L Education > LE Individual institutions (America except United States)
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Date of acceptance:	11 October 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	5 November 2026
Date Deposited:	05 Nov 2026 12:35
Last Modified:	05 Nov 2026 12:35
DOI or ID number:	10.1080/17441692.2026.2749290
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29827

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