Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda
Background: Childhood violence and mental health remain concerning public health issues globally yet there is limited evidence on the associations between experiences of such violence and mental health in refugee settings. Objective: To assess the association between experiences of childhood violenc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-08-01
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| Series: | Child Protection and Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S295019382400038X |
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| author | Peter Kisaakye Gloria Seruwagi George Odwe Francis Obare Stella Muthuri Caroline W. Kabiru Yohannes Dibaba Wado Chi-Chi Undie |
| author_facet | Peter Kisaakye Gloria Seruwagi George Odwe Francis Obare Stella Muthuri Caroline W. Kabiru Yohannes Dibaba Wado Chi-Chi Undie |
| author_sort | Peter Kisaakye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Childhood violence and mental health remain concerning public health issues globally yet there is limited evidence on the associations between experiences of such violence and mental health in refugee settings. Objective: To assess the association between experiences of childhood violence (sexual, physical, and emotional violence) and mental health (severe mental distress, self-harm, suicidal ideation and/or attempted suicide) in refugee settings in Uganda. Data and methods: Data are from the 2022 Uganda Humanitarian Violence against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS) conducted among 1338 females and 927 males aged 13–24 years between March and April 2022. Cross-tabulation with chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between experiencing childhood violence and mental health. Results: The results show a high prevalence of experiencing childhood violence (females 40.8% vs males 55.2%) and mental distress (45% for both males and females). Females who experienced childhood sexual violence had significantly higher odds of reporting severe mental distress (aOR = 1.989; CI = 1.216–3.255), suicidal ideation and/or attempted suicide (aOR = 4.119; CI = 2.157–7.864) and self-harm (aOR = 3.734; CI = 1.619–8.609) compared to those who did not experience such violence. Experiencing childhood physical or emotional violence was also significantly associated with increased odds of reporting suicidal ideation and/or attempts and self-harm among females. Among males, childhood emotional violence was significantly associated with increased odds of reporting suicidal ideation and/or attempts (aOR = 9.233; CI = 2.293–37.177) or severe mental distress (aOR = 2.823; CI = 1.115–7.148). Conclusion: Childhood exposure to violence was associated with poor mental health, with a higher risk observed among females. The findings of this paper provide critical insights to facilitate the development or strengthening of violence prevention and response interventions on violence against children in refugee settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8b2bc5408df44d5e9b633225db6dbb4b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2950-1938 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child Protection and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-8b2bc5408df44d5e9b633225db6dbb4b2025-08-20T02:04:18ZengElsevierChild Protection and Practice2950-19382024-08-01210003810.1016/j.chipro.2024.100038Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in UgandaPeter Kisaakye0Gloria Seruwagi1George Odwe2Francis Obare3Stella Muthuri4Caroline W. Kabiru5Yohannes Dibaba Wado6Chi-Chi Undie7Population Council, Kenya. Avenue 5, 3rd Floor, Rose Avenue, P.O Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, Kenya; Corresponding author.Population Council, Kenya. Avenue 5, 3rd Floor, Rose Avenue, P.O Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, KenyaPopulation Council, Kenya. Avenue 5, 3rd Floor, Rose Avenue, P.O Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, KenyaPopulation Council, Kenya. Avenue 5, 3rd Floor, Rose Avenue, P.O Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, KenyaPopulation Council, Kenya. Avenue 5, 3rd Floor, Rose Avenue, P.O Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), P.O. Box 10787-00100, APHRC Headquarters, Kitisuru, Nairobi, KenyaAfrican Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), P.O. Box 10787-00100, APHRC Headquarters, Kitisuru, Nairobi, KenyaPopulation Council, Kenya. Avenue 5, 3rd Floor, Rose Avenue, P.O Box 17643-00500, Nairobi, KenyaBackground: Childhood violence and mental health remain concerning public health issues globally yet there is limited evidence on the associations between experiences of such violence and mental health in refugee settings. Objective: To assess the association between experiences of childhood violence (sexual, physical, and emotional violence) and mental health (severe mental distress, self-harm, suicidal ideation and/or attempted suicide) in refugee settings in Uganda. Data and methods: Data are from the 2022 Uganda Humanitarian Violence against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS) conducted among 1338 females and 927 males aged 13–24 years between March and April 2022. Cross-tabulation with chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between experiencing childhood violence and mental health. Results: The results show a high prevalence of experiencing childhood violence (females 40.8% vs males 55.2%) and mental distress (45% for both males and females). Females who experienced childhood sexual violence had significantly higher odds of reporting severe mental distress (aOR = 1.989; CI = 1.216–3.255), suicidal ideation and/or attempted suicide (aOR = 4.119; CI = 2.157–7.864) and self-harm (aOR = 3.734; CI = 1.619–8.609) compared to those who did not experience such violence. Experiencing childhood physical or emotional violence was also significantly associated with increased odds of reporting suicidal ideation and/or attempts and self-harm among females. Among males, childhood emotional violence was significantly associated with increased odds of reporting suicidal ideation and/or attempts (aOR = 9.233; CI = 2.293–37.177) or severe mental distress (aOR = 2.823; CI = 1.115–7.148). Conclusion: Childhood exposure to violence was associated with poor mental health, with a higher risk observed among females. The findings of this paper provide critical insights to facilitate the development or strengthening of violence prevention and response interventions on violence against children in refugee settings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S295019382400038XChildhood violenceMental healthChildren and youthRefugee settingsUganda |
| spellingShingle | Peter Kisaakye Gloria Seruwagi George Odwe Francis Obare Stella Muthuri Caroline W. Kabiru Yohannes Dibaba Wado Chi-Chi Undie Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda Child Protection and Practice Childhood violence Mental health Children and youth Refugee settings Uganda |
| title | Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda |
| title_full | Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda |
| title_short | Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda |
| title_sort | associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in uganda |
| topic | Childhood violence Mental health Children and youth Refugee settings Uganda |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S295019382400038X |
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