Violence among adolescents in 13 Caribbean islands

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of violence and examine associations between violence and risk factors among 12 –15 year-old adolescents in the Caribbean. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cross national data from 13 Caribbean countries that participated in the Global School-Based Student Health Survey between 2007 and 2010 were analyzed. Adolescents who reported physical violence were compared with those who did not in relation to the reported risk factors. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk factors were estimated. RESULTS: Being in a physical fight and being physically attacked during the 12 months preceding the survey was reported by 39.7% and 36.6% of the adolescents studied in the 13 countries, respectively. Moderate to strong associations were observed between exposure to physical violence and gender, loneliness, suicidal ideation, school truancy, substance use (alcohol, tobacco and drugs), lack of parental supervision and close friends (p ≤ 0.05 for all associations). The study found that Grenadians were 1.17 (95% CI 1.02 – 1.34, p = 0.03) more likely to be physically attacked than those in Trinidad and Tobago. Physical violence varied significantly between countries and gender. CONCLUSION: Violence related behaviors in childhood and adolescence were common in the Caribbean and were associated with risky behaviors such as smoking, drug use and truancy. The potential for poor health outcomes and continued violence in adulthood was high and therefore violence in childhood and adolescence requires urgent attention. There is a critical need for interventions targeting high-risk adolescents at the school and community levels.