Abstract
IntroductionViolence among youth is a major public health issue globally. Despite these concerns, youth violence surveillance and prevention research are either scarce or non-existent, particularly in developing regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively determine the prevalence of violence involving weapons in a convenience sample of service-seeking youth in Kampala. Moreover, the study will seek to determine the overlap between violence victimization and perpetration among these youth and the potentially shared risk factors for these experiences.MethodsWe conducted this study of youth in May and June of 2011 to quantify and describe high-risk behaviors and exposures in a convenience sample (N=457) of urban youth, 14–24 years of age, living on the streets or in the slums and who were participating in a Uganda Youth Development Link drop-in center for disadvantaged street youth. We computed bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine associations between psychosocial factors and violence victimization and perpetration.ResultsThe overall prevalence of reporting violence victimization involving a weapon was 36%, and violence perpetration with a weapon was 19%. In terms of the overlap between victimization and perpetration, 16.6% of youth (11.6% of boys and 24.1% of girls) reported both. In multivariate analyses, parental neglect due to alcohol use (Adj.OR=2.28;95%CI: 1.12—4.62) and sadness (Adj.OR=4.36 ;95%CI: 1.81—10.53) were the statistically significant correlates of victimization only. Reporting hunger (Adj.OR=2.87 ;95%CI:1.30—6.33), any drunkenness (Adj.OR=2.35 ;95%CI:1.12—4.92) and any drug use (Adj.OR=3.02 ;95%CI:1.16—7.82) were significantly associated with both perpetration and victimization.ConclusionThe findings underscore the differential experiences associated with victimization and perpetration of violence involving weapons among these vulnerable youth. In particular, reporting hunger, drunkenness and drug use were specifically associated with victimization and perpetration. These are all modifiable risk factors that can be prevented. It is clear that these vulnerable youth are in need of additional services and guidance to ameliorate their adverse childhood experiences, current health risk behaviors and disadvantaged living context.
Highlights
Violence among youth is a major public health issue globally
We conducted this study of youth in May and June of 2011 to quantify and describe high-risk behaviors and exposures in a convenience sample (N1⁄4457) of urban youth, 14–24 years of age, living on the streets or in the slums and who were participating in a Uganda Youth Development Link drop-in center for disadvantaged street youth
The findings underscore the differential experiences associated with victimization and perpetration of violence involving weapons among these vulnerable youth
Summary
Violence among youth is a major public health issue globally Despite these concerns, youth violence surveillance and prevention research are either scarce or non-existent, in developing regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The concern is primarily for adolescents and young adults who are typically the primary perpetrators and victims of interpersonal violence.[2] youth violence surveillance and prevention research are either scarce or nonexistent in many countries, in low- and middleincome regions, such as Africa and South America.[1,3] Limited existing data suggest that these areas are those in which youth homicide rates are the highest. 5–6 Estimates indicate a growing population of orphans and orphans typically experience a range of adverse outcomes.[7,8,9] Due to the limited economic security and regional stability, youth violence is likely to remain a substantial problem in this region. Research of the relatively few data sources available indicate that school-attending youth in five different subSaharan countries report relatively high levels of youth violence.[3,10]
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