Objectives: Evidence showed that the prevalence of sexual violence during the whole human trafficking period was high. However, the distribution of sexual violence along the stages of the trafficking cycle is unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual violence at each stage of trafficking and factors associated with it among Ethiopian trafficked females. Design: A retrospective cohort study was conducted to study trafficking returnees regarding their previous experiences at each stage of trafficking. Settings: Data were collected at immigration offices in three border towns of Ethiopia located bordering Sudan, Kenya and Djibouti. Participants: Six hundred and seventy-one women who were trafficked from Ethiopia were recruited into the study consecutively. They were recruited when they came back home via the three border towns either by deportation or voluntary return. Outcome measure: The outcome variable was sexual violence.