Past political violence and interpersonal violence against children and youth in Africa

This study examines whether children and young people in nine African countries who experienced political violence are more likely to face interpersonal violence later. Using national survey data linked to armed conflict records, the researchers found that long-term exposure to political violence in childhood was associated with higher rates of emotional violence from family members, physical violence from intimate partners, and sexual violence in poorer households during adolescence and early adulthood.

Key points

• Long-term childhood exposure to political violence increased odds of emotional violence from family members by 5.5%
• Long-term political violence exposure increased odds of physical violence from intimate partners by 3.0%
• In poorer households, long-term political violence exposure increased odds of sexual violence by 16.9%
• Short-term exposure to political violence showed no statistically significant association with later interpersonal violence
• Study used nationally representative data from nine African countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe

Limitations

The study demonstrates associations between past political violence and later interpersonal violence but cannot definitively establish causation or isolate political violence from other concurrent adverse exposures. The mechanisms through which political violence influences later interpersonal violence are not explored.