Correlates of youth violence in low- and middle-income countries: A meta-analysis

Olga Sánchez De Ribera,Yulia Shenderovich,Nicolás Trajtenberg,Joseph Murray

doi:10.1016/j.avb.2019.07.001

Abstract

Abstract The highest rates of serious interpersonal violence occur in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) especially in Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub–Saharan Africa. However, previous reviews of risk factors for youth violence focused almost entirely on studies from high-income countries (HICs). Rigorous synthesis of evidence is needed for LMICs. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies of youth violence in LMICs, identified by extensive searches in seven languages. Studies reporting correlates of violence perpetration in samples of 100 or more 10–29 year-olds from the general population in LMICs were included in the review. Eighty-six studies including 480,898 individuals from 60 countries were eligible for meta-analysis. Violent outcomes included fighting, carrying a weapon and other interpersonal violent behaviors (e.g. assault). The strongest correlates of youth violence (OR ≥ 2.5) were: male sex, impulsivity, conduct problems, sexual intercourse at an early age, smoking, alcohol use, using illicit drugs, being bullied, suffering criminal victimization, having deviant/delinquent peers, and watching violent television. We conclude that many correlates of youth violence in LMICs are similar to those that have been identified in HICs, but other biological, psychological, and cultural predictors remain to be tested in LMICs. Implications for research and policy are discussed.

Highlights

Violence is a major global health, social, and justice problem
We conclude that many correlates of youth violence in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) are similar to those that have been identified in high-income countries (HICs), but other biological, psychological, and cultural predictors remain to be tested in LMICs
Among the 522 studies that had been identified in this systematic review project (Murray et al, 2018; Shenderovich et al, 2016), a total of 86 studies from 60 countries reporting on 480,898 individuals were eligible for inclusion in the current meta-analysis on correlates of youth violence

Summary

Introduction

Almost half a million people died from homicide in 2012 (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 2014) Most of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), and the highest rates are found in Latin America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa (UNODC, 2014; WHO, 2015). The total cost of homicide alone is estimated at 0.33% of GDP in HICs, but in Latin America and the Caribbean regions this rises to 4.1% (Feron & Hoeffler, 2014). These costs exert a considerable economic burden on already stressed state systems (Bowman et al, 2008). The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development explicitly included reducing violence among its goals and targets in order to help the development of sustainable societies (United Nations (UN), 2015)

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Results

Conclusion