Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Background: Children with disabilities are more likely to experience violence or injury at school and at home, but there is little evidence from Central Asia. Objective: To describe the prevalence of disability and associations with peer violence perpetration and victimization, depression, corporal...

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Main Authors: Rozina Somani, Julienne Corboz, Rozina Karmaliani, Esnat D. Chirwa, Judith McFarlane, Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja, Nargis Asad, Yasmeen Somani, Ingrid Van Der Heijden, Rachel Jewkes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-01-01
Series:Global Health Action
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1857084
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author Rozina Somani
Julienne Corboz
Rozina Karmaliani
Esnat D. Chirwa
Judith McFarlane
Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja
Nargis Asad
Yasmeen Somani
Ingrid Van Der Heijden
Rachel Jewkes
author_facet Rozina Somani
Julienne Corboz
Rozina Karmaliani
Esnat D. Chirwa
Judith McFarlane
Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja
Nargis Asad
Yasmeen Somani
Ingrid Van Der Heijden
Rachel Jewkes
author_sort Rozina Somani
collection DOAJ
description Background: Children with disabilities are more likely to experience violence or injury at school and at home, but there is little evidence from Central Asia. Objective: To describe the prevalence of disability and associations with peer violence perpetration and victimization, depression, corporal punishment, school performance and school attendance, among middle school children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Method: This is a secondary analysis of data gathered in the course of evaluations of interventions to prevent peer violence conducted in Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of the ‘What Works to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls Global Programme’. In Pakistan, the research was conducted in 40 schools, and disability was assessed at midline in 1516 interviews with Grade 7s. In Afghanistan, the data were from the baseline study conducted in 11 schools with 770 children. Generalized Linear Mixed Modeling was used to assess associations with disability. Results: In Afghanistan, the prevalence of disability was much higher for girls (22.1%) than boys (12.9%), while in Pakistan 6.0% of boys and girls reported a disability. Peer violence victimization was strongly associated with disability in Afghanistan and marginally associated in Pakistan. In Pakistan, perpetration of peer violence was associated with disability. In both countries, disability was significantly associated with higher depression scores. Food insecurity was strongly associated with disability in Afghanistan. Conclusion: Disability is highly prevalent in Afghanistan and Pakistan schools and this is associated with a greater risk of experiencing and perpetrating peer violence. It is important to ensure that all children can benefit from school-based prevention interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-e4946cef6ee249e69a4b51626c328c822025-08-20T03:47:04ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802021-01-0114110.1080/16549716.2020.18570841857084Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and AfghanistanRozina Somani0Julienne Corboz1Rozina Karmaliani2Esnat D. Chirwa3Judith McFarlane4Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja5Nargis Asad6Yasmeen Somani7Ingrid Van Der Heijden8Rachel Jewkes9University of TorontoSouth African Medical Research CouncilAga Khan UniversitySouth African Medical Research CouncilTexas Woman’s UniversityAga Khan UniversityAga Khan UniversityAga Khan UniversitySouth African Medical Research CouncilSouth African Medical Research CouncilBackground: Children with disabilities are more likely to experience violence or injury at school and at home, but there is little evidence from Central Asia. Objective: To describe the prevalence of disability and associations with peer violence perpetration and victimization, depression, corporal punishment, school performance and school attendance, among middle school children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Method: This is a secondary analysis of data gathered in the course of evaluations of interventions to prevent peer violence conducted in Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of the ‘What Works to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls Global Programme’. In Pakistan, the research was conducted in 40 schools, and disability was assessed at midline in 1516 interviews with Grade 7s. In Afghanistan, the data were from the baseline study conducted in 11 schools with 770 children. Generalized Linear Mixed Modeling was used to assess associations with disability. Results: In Afghanistan, the prevalence of disability was much higher for girls (22.1%) than boys (12.9%), while in Pakistan 6.0% of boys and girls reported a disability. Peer violence victimization was strongly associated with disability in Afghanistan and marginally associated in Pakistan. In Pakistan, perpetration of peer violence was associated with disability. In both countries, disability was significantly associated with higher depression scores. Food insecurity was strongly associated with disability in Afghanistan. Conclusion: Disability is highly prevalent in Afghanistan and Pakistan schools and this is associated with a greater risk of experiencing and perpetrating peer violence. It is important to ensure that all children can benefit from school-based prevention interventions.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1857084disabilityviolence against childrenpeer violence victimizationpeer violence perpetration
spellingShingle Rozina Somani
Julienne Corboz
Rozina Karmaliani
Esnat D. Chirwa
Judith McFarlane
Hussain Maqbool Ahmed Khuwaja
Nargis Asad
Yasmeen Somani
Ingrid Van Der Heijden
Rachel Jewkes
Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan
Global Health Action
disability
violence against children
peer violence victimization
peer violence perpetration
title Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan
title_full Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan
title_fullStr Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan
title_full_unstemmed Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan
title_short Peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in Pakistan and Afghanistan
title_sort peer victimization and experiences of violence at school and at home among school age children with disabilities in pakistan and afghanistan
topic disability
violence against children
peer violence victimization
peer violence perpetration
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2020.1857084
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