Peer-reviewed article

Violence against children and youth in refugee settings in Ethiopia: prevalence and associated risk factors

Yohannes Dibaba Wado, Bonnie Wandera, Francis Obare, Yadeta Dessie, Dagim Fisseha Habteyesus et al. · 20 Mar 2026

Abstract

Violence against children (VAC) in refugee settings is a pervasive issue that demands urgent attention, yet there is little evidence on the magnitude and health consequences of VAC in humanitarian settings. In this paper, we examine the prevalence and associated risk factors of childhood violence in refugee settings in Ethiopia. We drew on data from the Ethiopia Humanitarian Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS), a cross-sectional representative household survey conducted in 2024 among female and male children and youth drawn from 20 of the 23 refugee camps in Ethiopia. We used a three-stage cluster sampling design to identify and recruit children and young people for individual interviews. A total of 1937 females and 1536 males aged 13-24 years participated in the survey. Prevalence estimates are presented as weighted proportions with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Bivariate chi-squared tests were used to assess the risk factors for violence. Overall, about 31.9% (95% CI: 25.7-38.7) of females and 26.4.% (95%CI, 18.2-36.7) of males aged 18-24 experienced at least one form of violence before age 18. About 30.5% of females (95% CI: 18.2-36.7) and 36.6% of males (95% CI: 18.2- 36.7) aged 13-17 years experienced at least one form of violence in the 12 months before the survey. While sexual violence affected more females, physical violence was the most common form of violence among both females and males across all age groups. The prevalence of childhood violence was higher among females with lower education, those currently married or cohabiting, and those who had ever witnessed violence in the family during childhood. Similarly, a higher proportion of males with disability and those who witnessed violence in the family as a child reported childhood violence. Majority of participants reported that the perpetrator was someone known to them. The survey showed that childhood violence is common in refugee settings in Ethiopia, and thus, interventions that aim to promote child protection and response services are essential. The findings highlight the need for a gendered approach to programming, given the greater likelihood for girls to experience sexual violence and for boys to experience physical violence. Given the fact that most perpetrators of childhood violence are known to the survivors, community-wide interventions are critical for effectively addressing VAC in refugee settings in Ethiopia. • Violence against children and youth is common in refugee settings in Ethiopia with about one-third of females and a fourth of males aged 18-24 years experiencing childhood violence. • There is greater likelihood of girls to experience sexual violence while more males experienced physical violence. • Physical violence was the most common type of violence against children among both females and males and across age groups. • Most perpetrators were people that the children knew, including parents or adult relatives, adults in the community, an intimate partner, peers or friends. • Certain sub-groups of children and youth are more vulnerable to violence compared to others, including those who witnessed violence in the home, males living with disabilities, and females who were married or cohabiting.