Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link Skip directly to A-Z link


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. Saving Lives, Protecting People
							Search

		Submit


Violence Prevention


Facebook
        Twitter
        LinkedIn
        Syndicate





Research Brief: Girls’ home and early experiences in Swaziland are associated with risk for childhood sexual violence																									Related Pages
												Background
Sexual violence against girls in childhood (before age 18) is a substantial global health and human rights problem. Despite concerns regarding sexual violence against girls, prior to this study few studies had measured the burden of violence in sub-Saharan Africa. The Violence Against Children Survey (VACS) was conducted in Swaziland with a nationally representative sample of girls and young women ages 13-24 from selected households in 2007. A previous study using Swaziland data found that one in three girls – 33% – experienced sexual violence in childhood. Childhood sexual violence included forced or coerced sex, attempted unwanted sex, and unwanted forced touching. This study evaluated what characteristics are associated with increased risk of experiencing childhood sexual violence among girls in Swaziland.
Key FindingsThis paper reports findings from the 2007 Swaziland VACS, which was the first VACS completed. In Swaziland, data were only collected for girls. This study was important for establishing the methodology of the VACS and for reporting the national prevalence of violence among female children in Swaziland. This study lays the groundwork for future VACS studies and reports in other countries, which allows cross-national comparisons of the rates of violence, its circumstances, and consequences.Girls’ home and early experiences in Swaziland are associated with risk for childhood sexual violence
Girls whose relationship with their mothers was not close had higher rates of childhood sexual violence.
Girls who lived in a household with more people also had higher rates of childhood sexual violence.
Girls who were not attending school at the time of the survey had higher rates of childhood sexual violence.
Girls who experienced emotional violence by a parent or witnessed emotional violence before the age of 13 were also more likely to experience childhood sexual violence.
Girls who knew another child who had experience sexual violence were more likely to experience sexual violence themselves.
Some factors were not associated with experiencing childhood sexual violence among girls. These included experiencing physical violence in childhood, having peer social support, and living in multiple households in childhood.What is added by this report?
This study found several factors were associated with being a victim of childhood sexual violence among girls in Swaziland. The findings suggest that girls who lack a close relationship with their mothers and those who are not in school may be particularly vulnerable to childhood sexual violence. This study also found a connection between childhood sexual violence and emotional violence – both experiencing and witnessing it. This information can help identify the groups who are potentially most vulnerable to childhood sexual violence, and inform ways to identify victims, provide services, and prevent victimization among the most vulnerable groups.ReferenceBreiding MJ, Reza A, Gulaid J, Blanton C, Mercy JA, Dahlberg LL, Dlamini N, Bamrah S. Risk factors associated with sexual violence towards girls in Swaziland. *Bulletin of the World Health Organization* 2011; 89: 203-210.**Footnote: some variation between prevalence estimates from published papers and country reports may exist. This variation reflects slight differences in the subsamples and variables used in the analyses.*

			
							
								Page last reviewed:  November 8, 2018						Content source:  	National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Violence Prevention homeViolence PreventionAbout Usplus iconStrategic VisionConnecting the dotsTimelinePublic Health ApproachThe Social-Ecological ModelFunding Hubplus iconFunding OpportunitiesFunded ResearchFunded Programs and Initiativesplus iconThe Cardiff Violence Prevention Modelplus iconToolkitWhat Is the Cardiff Model?Hospital GuidanceLaw Enforcement GuidanceLegal, Technical, and Financial ConsiderationsBuilding PartnershipsExternal Communications and Media RelationsReadiness ChecklistJournal ArticlesContact UsAdverse Childhood Experiencesplus iconFast FactsRisk and Protective FactorsPrevention StrategiesHelp Youth At Risk for ACEsCDC-Kaiser ACE StudyBRFSS ACE DataEssentials for Childhood: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences through Data to ActionPreventing Adverse Childhood Experiences: Data to ActionResourcesChild Abuse & Neglectplus iconFast FactsRisk and Protective FactorsPrevention StrategiesAbusive Head TraumaEssentials for Childhoodplus iconAboutEssentials for ParentingFunded StatesFramework ResourcesViolence Against Children Surveysplus iconFast FactsPrevention StrategiesPartnersUS PEPFARCountry Reports & DataCountry ProcessResourcesResourcesChild Sexual Abuseplus iconPreventing Child Sexual Abuse in Youth-Serving OrganizationsCommunity Violence PreventionElder Abuseplus iconFast FactsRisk and Protective FactorsPrevention StrategiesResourcesFirearm Violence Preventionplus iconFast FactsFirearm Homicide TrendsFirearm Suicide TrendsFunded ResearchFunded Firearm Research FindingsFunded SurveillanceResourcesIntimate Partner Violenceplus iconFast FactsRisk and Protective FactorsPrevention StrategiesIntimate Partner Violence, Sexual Violence, and Stalking Among MenStalkingTeen Dating ViolenceDating Matters®plus iconAboutThe ScienceSuccess StoriesGet StartedPublications and ResourcesDELTA AHEADPreventing Teen Dating Violence and Youth Violence Programplus iconAboutGrantee ProfilesResourcesSexual Violenceplus iconFast FactsRisk and Protective FactorsPrevention StrategiesSex TraffickingSexual Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Among People with DisabilitiesPregnancy Resulting from RapeRape Prevention and Education (RPE)plus iconGrantee ProfilesResourcesplus iconUnited States Health and Justice Measures of Sexual VictimizationYouth Violenceplus iconFast FactsRisk and Protective FactorsPrevention Strategiesplus iconEnvironmental DesignBullyingSchool Violenceplus iconSchool-Associated Violent Death StudyNational Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (YVPCs)plus iconAboutSite DescriptionsAccomplishmentsLessons LearnedResourcesStriving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE)Preventing Violence Affecting Young Lives (PREVAYL)ResourcesCoping with StressData Sourcesplus iconThe National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS)plus iconOverviewReports and PublicationsKey Terms & FAQsNational Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)plus iconFrequently Asked QuestionsState ProfilesResourcesData AccessFeatured TopicsCommunication Resourcesplus iconInfographicsResources for ActionVideosViolence Education Tools Online (VETOViolence) To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address			What's this?				Submit
 Related Links
 Data & Statistics (WISQARS)Opioid Overdose PreventionTraumatic Brain InjuryMotor Vehicle SafetyPress Room


About CDC
					Contact Us
					800-232-4636
 Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Pinterest Snapchat
 CONTACT CDC
				Contact Us
							Call 800-232-4636
							Email Us
			ABOUT CDC
				About CDC
							Jobs
							Funding
			POLICIES
				Accessibility
							External Links
							Privacy
							Policies
							No Fear Act
							FOIA
							OIG
							Nondiscrimination
							Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			CONNECT WITH US
				Facebook
								Twitter
								Instagram
								LinkedIn
							Youtube
								Pinterest
								Snapchat
								Email
			LANGUAGES
				Español
							繁體中文
							Tiếng Việt
							한국어
							Tagalog
							Русский
							العربية
							Kreyòl Ayisyen
							Français
							Polski
							Português
							Italiano
							Deutsch
							日本語
							فارسی
							English


U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
			Accessibility
			External Links
			Privacy
			Policies
			No Fear Act
			FOIA
			Nondiscrimination
			OIG
			Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
			USA.gov


Exit Notification / Disclaimer Policy Close
 Links with this icon  indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website.
				Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.
				You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link.
				CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Website Disclaimers
 Cancel Continue