The effects of violence on adolescents and youth

Societal denial and ignorance, coupled with shame and fear of being ridiculed contribute to the grave underreporting of child sexual abuse and exploitation. While both boys and girls are vulnerable, few studies have explored the experiences of boys. ICRW conducted a retrospective study among men aged 18-22 years using quantitative and qualitative research techniques, to understand the experiences, consequences and coping mechanism and suggest programmatic recommendations. Quantitative data was collected with 117 youth, following which in-depth interviews could be completed with 9 who consented to talk about it. 57 percent (of the 117) reported experiencing sexual abuse and in three-fourth cases, the perpetrator was known to them. Among these , 40 percent shared their experience with someone, and none talked to their parents. The IDIs reveled that abuse was not a sporadic event but progressive and repetitive, and actions spanned a wide continuum. The immediate reaction for most was of “blanking out”. Other consequences included inability to focus, poor academic performance, sexual confusion, distraction, anger and shame. Respondents expressed multiple emotions as they struggle to make sense of the experience, and come to terms with it. Programs should focus on awareness among children and adults and establish response mechanisms

Despite South Africa being a peaceful democracy for the past 18 years, mortality due to unnatural and violent causes still occur among the youth. However, this is not specific to South Africa; with developed countries experiencing the same trend. Christoffel (1994) found that death due to unnatural causes, specifically related to violence, had increased especially among the youth. South Africa is now moving towards the same transition that is currently experienced by developed nations in the world: violent deaths as a major cause of death amongst the youth (Norman, et al, 2007). With this in mind, this paper aims to examine the different levels of male and female adolescent mortality due to 5 unnatural causes of death. Data from the South African death registry is analysed for the years 2006- 2009. Cause-specific mortality rates, proportional mortality ratios and life table techniques are used. Results show adolescent females are dying from ‘events of undetermined intent’, ‘transport accidents’ and ‘self- harm’ causes more than males. The selected causes of death are contributing up to 27% of all adolescent male mortality and almost 12% of all female mortality in 2009. Finally years of potential life lost due to ‘assault’ are increasing among females.

Sexual violence involves attempted and/or completed rape, sexual coercion and harassment,sexual contact with force or threat of force, and threat of rape. The perpetrators of sexual violence include people like close relatives, parents,teachers,law enforcers among others especially those who have power over the victims of such abuse.

Findings from a participatory local areas survey conducted in Budaka district revealed that female adolescents and youths are more vulnerable to sexual violence/abuse than any other age group. In fact, Key findings revealed that 73% of all victims of sexual crimes, including rape and sexual assault, are female youths under the age of 25 years. The action research findings (2012) further pointed out that adolescent females age 16-19 are four times more likely than the general population to report sexual assault, rape, and attempted rape. Often this violence occurs within the context of dating or acquaintance relationships, with the female partner.
The study was highly participatory and it involved consultation from the key informants particularly adolescents and youths since they are the main focus of the scientific study.
Recommendations:Female adolescents need to be empowered with self defence skills like Karate to enable them fight the perpetrators of such sexual assaults.

Using the available studies and materials relevant to child sexual abuse (CSA), this literature review investigates the scope of CSA in Vietnam, the vulnerability of Vietnamese children as well as the possibilities to improve CSA identification and prevention. The results show that the magnitude of CSA is substantial in Vietnam. There was a huge discrepancy between the number of reported cases and the estimated incidents. It could be said that CSA is largely hidden in Vietnam. There exists individual, relationship, community and societal risk factors for CSA victimization in Vietnam. The existing CSA identification and prevention are far from sufficient. There is a shortage of human resources, legal documents, guidelines. The result suggests that improving the policy, legal environment is really in need, especially with emphasis on promoting CSA researches, rehabilitation care, social marketing, developing monitoring and evaluation system to prevent CSA from the first place and to reduce the negative consequences on victims, their families and society at large.

Mortality during adolescence is usually low if compared with mortality in extreme ages. However, it represents an important issue in health public agendas (OPS, 2010). In Argentina, while the overall mortality rate is 78.4 per ten thousand inhabitants, in 10-19 population is 5.3 per ten thousand inhabitants. However, deaths in this age group have features that make its study relevant. More than half of the deaths are caused by external causes, with significant differences by sex in male disadvantage. These cases of death are of particular interest to the extent that are avoidable or likely to be reduced.
The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze the characteristics and circumstances of homicide mortality in 10-19 population in Buenos Aires Province. This province was selected because it concentrates nearly a third of all teenage deaths. Homicide mortality in adolescence has not been frequently studied in Argentina, possibly because of its low incidence.

The study explored the challenges of rehabilitating juvenile delinquents in Uganda.
In Uganda, juvenile delinquency has become a threat to the urban centers and families; with major characteristics of theft, arson, drug trafficking, addiction to commit crimes which altogether have constituted a threat to the general public.
By 1960s, the Government of Uganda had realized a threat emanating from the juvenile delinquents and thus came up with the construction of rehabilitation centers among which were Naguru Remand Home and Kampiringisa National Rehabilitation Centers where the study was carried out. Nevertheless, the challenges pertaining to juvenile delinquency continue to be felt.
Qualitative and quantitative research techniques were employed. Data was collected through interviews, Focused Group Discussions and observation. Descriptive statistics were presented in percentages and graphs after the use of Statistical Program for Social Scientific (SPSS) and Microsoft excel.
The findings collected reveal that the challenges of the juvenile delinquents emanate largely from the home environment albeit other factors are held vital.
Some characters have remained untamed due to the long stay on streets and loss of hope in life especially after the death of their parents particularly due to AIDS.

In recent times, young underage people in and out of school engage in the consumption of alcohol and other psychoactive substances without restraints as a mark of adulthood and modernisation. This is made possible through advancement in packaging (through modern technology) and easy access to locations where these products are available. This development portends a great risk for these youths, the family structure and the nation at large. One therefore becomes curious regarding the regulations put in place regarding substance consumption among underage and youths in general. Equally, one is inquisitive about the dimensions of violence in relation to substance consumption in the country coupled with activities put in place over time to educate and discourage the youths regarding its consumption. While studies have showed the relationship between substance consumption and violent behaviour, not much is being done in this regard in recent times. This study critically examines substance consumption and violence among youths in Nigeria; the nexus between family, nation and substance consumption among youths and policies set up in this regard in the county over time. Finally, some recommendations shall be made on how the key players can be up and doing in this regard

Literature suggests a number of explanations for people’s perceptions on domestic violence. Using the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) data, the study sought to investigate the relationship between parental violence and men’s perceptions on spousal abuse.
The dependent variables were five different measures on men’s perceptions of wife-beating for transgressed gender norms, while the independent variable sought to illicit information on past parental domestic violence instances.
Controlling for demographic and socio-economic variables, logistic regression models showed that men whose fathers beat their mothers were between 1.5 to 2.5 times as likely to find wife beating acceptable as those who did not witness parental abuse, indicating that a person’s awareness of parental violence (wife-beating) could influence their perceptions on wife-beating.
While children of victims must be targeted with a variety of approaches including counseling, there should be culture-specific interventions that prevent the culturally influenced acceptance of domestic violence.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Parental Violence, Male Perceptions, Wife-Beating, Ghana.

The objectives of this study first explores, the meaning of sexual rights and sexuality exist, among pupils and teachers in Thai Society. Second it examines the attitudes of teachers towards making aware school children about the issues of sexual rights, abuse and harassment. The data for this study gathered from a qualitative study which collected information following 16 in-depth interviews from 10 students and 6 teachers in two primary school in Bangkok. We analyze data by using both disclosure and content analyses. Results revealed that students and teachers have different meaning on sexual abuse and harassment.
Students have different meaning of sexual rights and sexual abuse depending on child’s age, sex, and experience. Most of the adult children explained that they aware about sexual abuse and harassments and they had knowledge on prevent such occasions, while young children had very little knowledge on sexual rights and abuse. All teachers emphasized that there is need for teaching students about rights, harassment, including sexual communication to make aware students about such issues in order to reduce incidences. In addition, teachers suggest that use of mass media and conducting awareness programs at schools, are very effective methods of making aware the children about such issues.

Violence against women is rampant in India and spousal violence being its worst form. Spousal violence affect women regardless of their age; teens and young women are especially vulnerable. Spousal violence is a significant public health problem because of the associated physical, psychological, and financial costs to victims, their families, communities, and society in general.violence is repetitive and can sometimes be fatal. The severe consequences of repeated spousal violence necessitate the development of ways to identify male abusers at high risk of perpetrating spousal violence so that actions can be taken to protect victims. While physical and sexual violence perpetrated by married men against their wives are both major public health problems but in India very little research exists on them. With this interest, this paper using “Youth in India: Situation and Needs Study, 2006–2007” data set, tried to examine the association between witnessing parental violence and violence in community and their perpetration of non-consensual sex and spousal violence married men aged 15-29 against their wives. Internalizing behaviors, like exposure to parental violence and community violence were examined as significant moderators of perpetrating violence among young men in India.