Violence and Non-fatal Injuries among Vietnamese In-school Adolescents: National Prevalence Estimates and Associated Factors

Abstract

Background: School violence and injury are major public health problems worldwide; however, current information on these issues in Vietnam is lacking. We aim to investigate the prevalence of violence and non-fatal injury and associated factors among Vietnamese adolescents aged 13-17 years old. Methods: We used data from the 2019 Vietnam Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), which is a nationally representative survey developed by the World Health Organization to monitor behavioral risk factors among school-aged students. The Vietnam GSHS 2019 was conducted in 20 provinces and cities, with a sample size of 7,690 male and female students aged 13-17 years old. Results: We found the prevalence of violence and non-fatal injury was 14.5% and 21.4%, respectively. Common risk factors for both violence and non-fatal injuries included cigarette smoking, alcohol use, mental health problems, and living with neither parent; violence was also a risk factor for non-fatal injuries. Student older age was associated with lower odds of school violence. Parents played an important role in preventing violence among female students and non-fatal injuries in both genders. Conclusions: Future policies should consider individual factors as well as adolescent-parent bonding, to mitigate the burden of violence and injury among in-school adolescents in Vietnam