A cross-sectional survey amongst young adults in Nigeria on their personal experience of injury and violence

Abstract

Introduction: Injuries and violence are increasingly being recognized as a major public health problem that greatly impacts young people with potentially far-reaching consequences for their physical, reproductive, and mental health. Despite the rising incidence, there is still a high level of under-reporting.Objectives: This study sought to report the experiences of unintentional injury and violent incidents and their gender variations amongst young adults in Bayelsa state.Methods: A cross-sectional study amongst 209 randomly selected young adults. Using a self-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO STEPwise manual on non-communicable disease, data on socio-demographic characteristics, experiences with violence and injury was obtained.Result: Mean age was 25.7 years; 51.7% were females.  In the 12 months preceding the study, about 1 in 3 respondents had an unintentional injury that required medical attention and 21.5% had been involved in a Road Traffic accident. Most threats were from close relatives and friends. A little over 3 in 5 (64.4%) respondents reported physical abuse, 25.8% had experienced sexual abuse in childhood and 24.4% experienced sexual abuse as adults; this was higher in females than males (27.8% vs 20.7%). Non-RTA injuries were significantly higher (χ2=3.58; p–0.040) in females. Except RTA injuries/violence, more females than males experienced physical/sexual violence; though no statistically difference(p>0.05).Conclusion & Recommendations: A large number of young adults experience varied forms of injury and violence in the course of life during childhood and adulthood. Females experience these more than males highlighting the need for a gender-responsive approach in addressing this public health problem