Prevalence and correlates of interpersonal violence among in-school adolescents in Tanzania

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of interpersonal violence (physical attacks and physical fighting) among school-going adolescents in Tanzania. We analysed an existing data set of 3 765 adolescent learners (mean age = 14 years, SD = 1. 7 years) by the Global School-based Student Health Survey in 2014. Results indicate that 53.1% of the students reported experiencing physical attack (54.4% in boys and 51.6% in girls) and 29.9% had engaged in a physical fight the past 12 months (29.3% in boys and 29.7% in girls). In adjusted logistic regression analyses, school truancy, bullying victimisation, and injury were associated with physical attack experience. Being younger and self-reporting health risk beahviours such as sedentary behaviour, current tobacco use, consumption of soft drinks, bullying victimisation, and injury were associated with involvement in physical fights. Preventive interpersonal violence interventions with adolescent school learners should seek to address both physical aggression survivorship and perpetration.

Keywords:

• adolescents
• physical attacks
• physical fighting,psychological distress
• risk factors
• Tanzania