Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey
Background: Researchers have identified various factors that contribute to low levels of educational attainment. However, studies examining the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and educational attainment remain scarce. Understanding this relationship is vital since experie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Child Protection and Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193825000300 |
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| author | Maria Ndibalekera Clare Ahabwe Bangirana Mathew Amollo Kenneth Olido Agatha Kafuko Timothy Opobo Ronald Ssenyonga |
| author_facet | Maria Ndibalekera Clare Ahabwe Bangirana Mathew Amollo Kenneth Olido Agatha Kafuko Timothy Opobo Ronald Ssenyonga |
| author_sort | Maria Ndibalekera |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Researchers have identified various factors that contribute to low levels of educational attainment. However, studies examining the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and educational attainment remain scarce. Understanding this relationship is vital since experiencing violence during childhood is associated with poor educational outcomes and a higher likelihood of financial difficulties and employment issues later in life. Objective: This study sought to understand the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment for male and female young adults. Participants and setting: The study uses data from the Uganda Violence Against Children Survey (2018), focusing on participants aged 18–24. Methods: Secondary analysis was done using STATA 14 among participants aged 18–24 years from whom responses on childhood sexual violence (CSV) victimization were solicited. CSV was measured in its different forms i.e., unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex, pressured sex and sexual exploitation, while low educational attainment was defined as being out of school and having primary or less as the highest level of education. Bivariable analysis and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted. Results: The majority (67.2%) of the sample of 2312 young adults had low educational attainment. Basing on the different forms of childhood sexual violence victimization (sexual exploitation, unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex and pressured sex), low education attainment ranged between 59.2% and 72.3% for males and 50.9% and 72.4% for females. The different forms of CSV were not significantly associated with low educational attainment except attempted forced sex among females (P = 0.011) in the bivariate analysis and child marriage in the multivariate model (P = 0.022). Conclusion: Low levels of educational attainment in Uganda are prevalent and could be influenced by various factors that warrant further investigation. There is a need for additional research to clarify the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment. Considering the well established advantages of education for individuals and communities, it is essential to strengthen initiatives aimed at increasing both access to and the quality of educational services. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e49d9e4759274c358bfbf1a4cae38f2b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2950-1938 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child Protection and Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-e49d9e4759274c358bfbf1a4cae38f2b2025-08-20T03:42:55ZengElsevierChild Protection and Practice2950-19382025-04-01410012310.1016/j.chipro.2025.100123Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children surveyMaria Ndibalekera0Clare Ahabwe Bangirana1Mathew Amollo2Kenneth Olido3Agatha Kafuko4Timothy Opobo5Ronald Ssenyonga6The AfriChild Centre, Uganda; Corresponding author.The AfriChild Centre, UgandaThe AfriChild Centre, UgandaGulu University, UgandaMakerere University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, UgandaThe AfriChild Centre, UgandaMakerere University, School of Public Health and Muni University, UgandaBackground: Researchers have identified various factors that contribute to low levels of educational attainment. However, studies examining the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and educational attainment remain scarce. Understanding this relationship is vital since experiencing violence during childhood is associated with poor educational outcomes and a higher likelihood of financial difficulties and employment issues later in life. Objective: This study sought to understand the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment for male and female young adults. Participants and setting: The study uses data from the Uganda Violence Against Children Survey (2018), focusing on participants aged 18–24. Methods: Secondary analysis was done using STATA 14 among participants aged 18–24 years from whom responses on childhood sexual violence (CSV) victimization were solicited. CSV was measured in its different forms i.e., unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex, pressured sex and sexual exploitation, while low educational attainment was defined as being out of school and having primary or less as the highest level of education. Bivariable analysis and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted. Results: The majority (67.2%) of the sample of 2312 young adults had low educational attainment. Basing on the different forms of childhood sexual violence victimization (sexual exploitation, unwanted sexual touches, attempted forced sex, physically forced sex and pressured sex), low education attainment ranged between 59.2% and 72.3% for males and 50.9% and 72.4% for females. The different forms of CSV were not significantly associated with low educational attainment except attempted forced sex among females (P = 0.011) in the bivariate analysis and child marriage in the multivariate model (P = 0.022). Conclusion: Low levels of educational attainment in Uganda are prevalent and could be influenced by various factors that warrant further investigation. There is a need for additional research to clarify the association between childhood sexual violence victimization and low educational attainment. Considering the well established advantages of education for individuals and communities, it is essential to strengthen initiatives aimed at increasing both access to and the quality of educational services.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193825000300Childhood sexual violenceSexual violenceEducationLow educational attainmentUganda violence against children surveyViolence against children |
| spellingShingle | Maria Ndibalekera Clare Ahabwe Bangirana Mathew Amollo Kenneth Olido Agatha Kafuko Timothy Opobo Ronald Ssenyonga Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey Child Protection and Practice Childhood sexual violence Sexual violence Education Low educational attainment Uganda violence against children survey Violence against children |
| title | Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey |
| title_full | Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey |
| title_fullStr | Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey |
| title_short | Association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18–24: Evidence from the 2018 Uganda violence against children survey |
| title_sort | association between childhood sexual violence and low educational attainment among young people aged 18 24 evidence from the 2018 uganda violence against children survey |
| topic | Childhood sexual violence Sexual violence Education Low educational attainment Uganda violence against children survey Violence against children |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950193825000300 |
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