Trends and demographic differences in interpersonal violence against children in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from the 1990-2019 Global Burden of Disease Study

Sergio Nhassengo; Lucie Laflamme; Mathilde Sengoelge; Yohannes Habtegiorgis Abate; Mesfin Abebe; Kedir Hussein Abegaz; Olumide Abiodun; Richard Gyan Aboagye; Kenneth Setorwu Adde; Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo; Abiola Victor Victor Adepoju; Muktar Beshir Ahmed; Timothy Olukunle Aladelusi; Deborah Oyine Aluh; Hubert Amu; Idowu Thomas Aruleba; Getnet Melaku Ayele; Amadou Barrow; Hameed Akande Bashiru; Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa; Malizgani Paul Chavula; Berihun Assefa Dachew; Berecha Hundessa Demessa; Isaac Oluwafemi Dipeolu; Robert Kokou Dowou; Michael Ekholuenetale; Temitope Cyrus Ekundayo; Adewale Oluwaseun Fadaka; Adeniyi Francis Fagbamigbe; Miglas Welay Gebregergis; Mesfin Gebrehiwot; Teferi Gebru Gebremeskel; Urge Gerema; Ebisa Zerihun Gindaba; Teklehaimanot Gereziher Haile; Demisu Zenbaba Heyi; Segun Emmanuel Ibitoye; Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi; Mustapha Immurana; Chidozie Declan Iwu; Assefa N Iyasu; Rebuma Sorsa Jeben; Alelign Tasew Jema; Charity Ehimwenma Joshua; Gebisa Guyasa Kabito; Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi; Molla Asnake Kebede; Manasi Kumar; Emmanuel Manu; Tesfahun Mekene Meto; Mathewos M Mekonnen; Hadush Negash Meles; Tadesse Misgana; Mustapha Mohammed; Shafiu Mohammed; Ahmed Nuru Muhamed; Ogochukwu Janet Nzoputam; Onome Bright Oghenetega; Osaretin Christabel Okonji; Andrew T Olagunju; Isaac Iyinoluwa Olufadewa; Gideon Olamilekan Oluwatunase; Verner N Orish; Jennifer Rickard; Afeez Abolarinwa Salami; Soraya Seedat; Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie; Migbar Mekonnen Sibhat; Yonatan Solomon; Dan J Stein; Jacques Lukenze Tamuzi; Elvis Enowbeyang Tarkang; Edosa Geta Tesfaye Gta; Temesgen Mohammed Toma; Aniefiok John Udoakang; Abate Dargie Wubetu; GBD 2019 SSA Child Interpersonal Violence

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083070

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Trends and demographic differences in interpersonal violence against children in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from the 1990-2019 Global Burden of Disease Study

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Trends and demographic differences in interpersonal violence against children in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from the 1990-2019 Global Burden of Disease Study

Sergio Nhassengo, Lucie Laflamme, Mathilde Sengoelge, Yohannes Habtegiorgis Abate, Mesfin Abebe, Kedir Hussein Abegaz, Olumide Abiodun, Richard Gyan Aboagye, Kenneth Setorwu Adde, Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo, …

BMJ open, Vol.15(4), e083070

04/28/2025

DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083070

PMID: 40295136

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Abstract

Objectives To analyse the past 30-year trends in mortality and morbidity of interpersonal violence against children, its demographic distribution and correlation with specific risk factors. Design Ecological study at the country and regional level. Setting 46 countries and 4 subregions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Central, Eastern, Southern and Western. Participants Children aged 0-19 years old. Primary and secondary outcome measures Trends in mortality rates and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributed to interpersonal violence injuries in children; correlation between socio-demographic index (SDI)/alcohol consumption per capita and child interpersonal violence. Results Deaths and DALYs per 100 000 population from child violence-related injuries in SSA declined from 4.0 (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 3.3-4.9) to 3.1 (95% UI: 2.3 to 3.9) and 334.9 (95% UI: 276.4 to 407.7) to 260.3 (95% UI: 197.9 to 321.9) respectively from 1990 to 2019 (reductions of 22.5% and 22.3%). Southern SSA had the highest deaths/DALYs rates for each type of physical violence (sharp object/firearm/other) and Central SSA for sexual violence. Alcohol consumption correlated significantly with deaths and DALYs, but SDI showed a non-significant correlation. Conclusions Rates of child interpersonal violence deaths and DALYs decreased from 2009 to 2019 in SSA, driven by remarkable decreases in the Southern subregion. Understanding the determinants of these downward trends and implementation of policies targeting known risk factors like alcohol consumption may pave the way for enhanced child safety protection. Further curbing the disparities between countries and subregions necessitates long-term commitment to evidence-based action plans.

Child protection

Gender-Based Violence

Health Equity

Mortality

Details

Title: Subtitle: Trends and demographic differences in interpersonal violence against children in sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from the 1990-2019 Global Burden of Disease Study
Creators: Sergio Nhassengo - Eduardo Mondlane University
Lucie Laflamme - Karolinska Institutet
Mathilde Sengoelge - Karolinska Institutet
Yohannes Habtegiorgis Abate
Mesfin Abebe
Kedir Hussein Abegaz
Olumide Abiodun
Richard Gyan Aboagye
Kenneth Setorwu Adde
Oluwafemi Atanda Adeagbo
Abiola Victor Victor Adepoju
Muktar Beshir Ahmed
Timothy Olukunle Aladelusi
Deborah Oyine Aluh
Hubert Amu
Idowu Thomas Aruleba
Getnet Melaku Ayele
Amadou Barrow
Hameed Akande Bashiru
Obasanjo Afolabi Bolarinwa
Malizgani Paul Chavula
Berihun Assefa Dachew
Berecha Hundessa Demessa
Isaac Oluwafemi Dipeolu
Robert Kokou Dowou
Michael Ekholuenetale
Temitope Cyrus Ekundayo
Adewale Oluwaseun Fadaka
Adeniyi Francis Fagbamigbe
Miglas Welay Gebregergis
Mesfin Gebrehiwot
Teferi Gebru Gebremeskel
Urge Gerema
Ebisa Zerihun Gindaba
Teklehaimanot Gereziher Haile
Demisu Zenbaba Heyi
Segun Emmanuel Ibitoye
Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi
Mustapha Immurana
Chidozie Declan Iwu
Assefa N Iyasu
Rebuma Sorsa Jeben
Alelign Tasew Jema
Charity Ehimwenma Joshua
Gebisa Guyasa Kabito
Kehinde Kazeem Kanmodi
Molla Asnake Kebede
Manasi Kumar
Emmanuel Manu
Tesfahun Mekene Meto
Mathewos M Mekonnen
Hadush Negash Meles
Tadesse Misgana
Mustapha Mohammed
Shafiu Mohammed
Ahmed Nuru Muhamed
Ogochukwu Janet Nzoputam
Onome Bright Oghenetega
Osaretin Christabel Okonji
Andrew T Olagunju
Isaac Iyinoluwa Olufadewa
Gideon Olamilekan Oluwatunase
Verner N Orish
Jennifer Rickard
Afeez Abolarinwa Salami
Soraya Seedat
Ashenafi Kibret Sendekie
Migbar Mekonnen Sibhat
Yonatan Solomon
Dan J Stein
Jacques Lukenze Tamuzi
Elvis Enowbeyang Tarkang
Edosa Geta Tesfaye Gta
Temesgen Mohammed Toma
Aniefiok John Udoakang
Abate Dargie Wubetu
GBD 2019 SSA Child Interpersonal Violence
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: BMJ open, Vol.15(4), e083070
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-083070
PMID: 40295136
NLM abbreviation: BMJ Open
ISSN: 2044-6055
eISSN: 2044-6055
Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
Grant note: Eduardo Mondlane UniversityInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington
We acknowledge the support of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington that engages a large network of individual collaborators with specialties in various topic areas of expertise to conduct the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study.
Language: English
Date published: 04/28/2025
Academic Unit: Community and Behavioral Health
Record Identifier: 9985132066802771

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