Dating violence among school students in Tanzania and South Africa: prevalence and socio-demographic variations.

Full Abstract

AIMS: Widespread adolescent dating violence (DV) in Sub-Saharan Africa calls for immediate action, particularly since it is linked to the spread of HIV/AIDS. This article presents prevalence and demographic correlates of DV among school students in Cape Town and Mankweng (South Africa) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). METHODS: Data were derived from the baseline data collection of a multi-site randomized controlled trial of an HIV prevention intervention among young adolescents. The results were confined to students who reported previously or currently being in a relationship (n = 6,979). Multiple logistic regression analysis with demographic predictors was employed, controlled for cluster effect. RESULTS: Within our sample 10.2%-37.8% had been victims, 3.1%-21.8% had been perpetrators, and 8.6%-42.8% had been both (percentages dependent on site and gender). Before controlling for other factors, religion was a protective factor against violence in Cape Town. After controlling for other factors, a higher age and lower socioeconomic status were associated with belonging to any of the three groups of violence. Being male in all sites was associated with perpetration; being female with victimization (except in Cape Town where the converse finding was obtained). Higher parental education in Cape Town was protective against all types of violence. Ethnicity and living with biological parents were not associated with violence. CONCLUSIONS: DV is prevalent and widespread in the study sites. Violence control policies and interventions should target young adolescents. Since there was not one clearly defined subgroup identified as being at high risk, such programmes should not be limited to high risk groups only.

Author information

Author/s: Wubs, Annegreet G (AG); Aarø, Leif E (LE); Flisher, Alan J (AJ); Bastien, Sheri (S); Onya, Hans E (HE); Kaaya, Sylvia (S); Mathews, Catherine (C);

Affiliation: Research Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Norway. annegreet.wubs(-atsign-)iuh.uib.no

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Scandinavian journal of public health (Scand J Public Health), published in Sweden. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Jun; vol 37 Suppl 2 (issue ) : pp 75-86

Dates: Created 2009/06/04; Completed 2009/10/08;

PMID: 19493984, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/8/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.