MEASURING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN

Transcription

1 MEASURING VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN James A. Mercy, PhD Division of Violence Prevention National Center for Injury Prevention and Control Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

2 Why is the Measuring Violence Against Children Important? Children are at high risk of violence worldwide Human rights problem of enormous proportions Cross-cutting and long-term implications for public health Compelling implications for economic and social development Magnitude and Impact not well understood Data are needed as a catalyst for action

3 Violence Against Children Is Costly and HIV/AIDS Destructive Internal Injury Mental Health Problems Injury Depression and Anxiety Head Injury Burns PTSD Fractures Stroke Heart Disease Violence Against Children Cancer Diabetes Alcohol Chronic Lung Disease Smoking Non-Communicable Disease Obesity Physical Inactivity Suicide Maternal and Child Health Assault Unintended and Adolescent Pregnancy Fetal Death Pregnancy Complications STDs HIV Alcohol And Drugs Multiple Partners Unsafe Sexual Practices Communicable Disease and Risk Behaviors

4 Together for Girls: A Global Partnership Centers for Disease Control and Prevention United Nations Children s Fund President s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS World Health Organization United Nations Development Fund for Women United Nations Population Fund Becton, Dickinson and Company CDC Foundation Nduna Foundation Grupo ABC Generate data to guide action Support governments in evidence-based prevention and response Mobilize action through communication strategies

5 Completed and Planned Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS) Viet Nam Haiti Nigeria Cambodia Malaysia Uganda Philippines Rwanda Kenya Zambia Tanzania Laos PDR Indonesia Malawi Zimbabwe Swaziland

6 VACS Methods National household survey Three-stage cluster sample survey design Randomly select one eligible female or male aged years in each household Swaziland girls only; All subsequent surveys both girls and boys Surveys carried out by in-country institutions Extensive efforts to protect child respondents

7 VACS Addresses Key Issues MEASURES violence and its IMPACT on children s lives with a strong gender lens Uses data to foster POLITICAL ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRAMMING to prevent and respond to violence against children UNICEF/NYHQ /Haviv

8 Prevalence of Sexual Violence Prior to Age 18 Reported by Females and Males Years of Age in Five VACS Country Sites Five Country Comparison Females Males Swaziland* Tanzania Kenya Zimbabwe Haiti *Only girls interviewed in Swaziland

9 12-Month Prevalence of Sexual Violence Reported by Females and Males Years of Age in Five VACS Country Sites Five Country Comparison Females Males 0 Swaziland* Tanzania Kenya Zimbabwe Haiti *Only girls interviewed in Swaziland

10 Prevalence of Physical Violence By Adult Household Members or Authority Figures Prior to Age 18 Reported by Females and Males Years of Age in Four VACS Country Sites Four Country Comparison Females Males Tanzania Kenya Zimbabwe Haiti *Only girls interviewed in Swaziland

11 Adjusted odds ratio* Association Between Childhood Sexual Violence and Selected Health Conditions, Females Years Old, Swaziland, * Adjusted for age, community setting, SES, and orphan status Source: Reza A, et al. Sexual violence and its health consequences for female children in Swaziland: a cluster survey study. Lancet 2009;373(9679): SES, Socioeconomic status STDs, Sexually transmitted diseases

12 one or Infrequent Condom Use in the Previous 12 Months by Experiences of Childhood Sexual Violence - As Reported by Year Olds Who Ever Had Sex, Tanzania Percentage (%) Female Male Experienced Childhood Sexual Violence Did not Experience Childhood Sexual Violence Source: United Republic of Tanzania, UNICEF, CDC, Muhimbili University. (2011). Violence Against Children In Tanzania: Findings from a National Survey 2009.

13 Disclosure and Service Usage by Victims of Child Sexual Violence as Reported by Year Olds, Kenya, 2009 Girls 3.4% Received services for sexual violence Sought services for sexual violence 0.4%* 24.0% 18.0% Boys Told someone about sexual violence 45.9% 35.8% * Estimate is unstable Source: UNICEF, CDC, KNBS. (2012). Violence Against Children In Tanzania: Findings from a National Survey 2010.

14 Prevalence of Sexual Violence Prior to Age 18 Reported by Females and Males by Camp Status, Haiti, 2012 Any Sexual Violence Post Quake in Haiti Camp Non-Camp Females Males

15 VACS Contribution to Measurable Targets for Violence Against Children National data Consistently applied definitions Estimates are sensitive to change Includes a broad range of types of violence and exploitation

16 Methodological Needs in Developing and Monitoring Measurable Targets Less expensive methods for tracking violence More rapid ways of collecting data Greater implementation flexibility Make use of new communication technology

17 We Need to Measure the Change we Envision for the World

18 For more information Visit CDC s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control web site:

19 Disclaimer The findings and conclusions of this presentation have not been formally disseminated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy.