Prevalence and associated factors of weapon carrying among university students from 25 countries

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of recent weapon carrying among university students from 25 countries. Using a cross-sectional study design, 18 433 university students (median age = 20 years) 25 countries in Africa, the Americas, and Asia, replied to self-reported measures of weapon carrying, risk behaviours, negative emotions, stimuli, and protective factors. The prevalence of weapon carrying (past month) was 6.4% overall, 3.9% among female and 9.8% among male students. The prevalence of weapon carrying was above 10% among students in three countries: Bangladesh, Tunisia and Russia. In contrast, the prevalence of weapons carrying was the lowest (< 2.5%) in China, Laos, and Singapore. In the adjusted logistic regression analysis, male sex, risk behaviour (binge drinking, current tobacco use, frequent drug use, in a physical fight, history of multiple sexual partners, and having sustained a serious injury), and negative emotions and stimuli (depression, sleeping problems, and physical intimate partner violence victimisation) were associated with past-month weapon carrying. One in ten male and one in 20 female university students across 25 countries had been carrying a weapon in the past months. The results identified a potentially high-risk group of university students (males, substance use, violence victimisation and behaviour, sexual risk behaviour, injury, and psychological distress) that could be targeted for strategies to reduce weapon carrying in this population.