Document Abstract
Published:
5 May 2009
Exposure to physical and sexual violence and adverse health behaviours in African children: results from the Global School-based Student Health Survey
Physical and sexual violence is associated with multiple adverse health behaviours
This article, published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, examines associations between exposure to physical violence (PV) or sexual violence (SV) and adverse health behaviours among a sample of children in five African countries. The authors, using a cross-sectional analysis of data from Namibia, Swaziland, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe – countries that participated in the Global School-based Student Health Survey in 2003 or 2004 – compared the relative frequency of several adverse health behaviours among children (primarily students 13-15 years of age) who did and who did not report exposure to PV or SV.
The authors find that exposure to PV during the 12 months preceding the survey was reported by 42 percent of the children studied in the five countries, and lifetime exposure to SV was reported by 23 percent. Moderate to strong associations were observed between exposure to PV or SV and measures of mental health, suicidal ideation, current cigarette use, current alcohol use, lifetime drug use, multiple sex partners and a history of sexually transmitted infection.
Based on the above findings, the authors conclude that childhood exposure to PV and SV is common among African children in some countries and is associated with multiple adverse health behaviours. In addition, the authors argue that increased awareness of the frequency of exposure to violence among children and its potential health consequences may lead to heightened attention to the need for health promotion and preventive programmes that address the problem in developing countries.
The authors find that exposure to PV during the 12 months preceding the survey was reported by 42 percent of the children studied in the five countries, and lifetime exposure to SV was reported by 23 percent. Moderate to strong associations were observed between exposure to PV or SV and measures of mental health, suicidal ideation, current cigarette use, current alcohol use, lifetime drug use, multiple sex partners and a history of sexually transmitted infection.
Based on the above findings, the authors conclude that childhood exposure to PV and SV is common among African children in some countries and is associated with multiple adverse health behaviours. In addition, the authors argue that increased awareness of the frequency of exposure to violence among children and its potential health consequences may lead to heightened attention to the need for health promotion and preventive programmes that address the problem in developing countries.
