Primary research

Prevalence and associated factors of physical fighting among school-going adolescents in Namibia

Emmanuel Rudatsikira¹ , Seter Siziya² , Lawrence N Kazembe³ and Adamson S Muula⁴

¹  Departments of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Global Health, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA

²  Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

³  Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Malawi, Chancellor College, Zomba, Malawi

⁴  Department of Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi

author email corresponding author email

Annals of General Psychiatry 2007, 6:18doi:10.1186/1744-859X-6-18

Published:	24 July 2007

Abstract

Background

Interpersonal physical violence is an important global public health concern that has received limited attention in the developing world. There is in particular a paucity of data regarding physical violence and its socio-demographic correlates among in-school adolescents in Namibia.

Methods

We analysed cross-sectional data from the Namibia Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) conducted in 2004. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and socio-demographic correlates of physical fighting within the last 12 months. We obtained frequencies of socio-demographic attributes. We also assessed the association between self-reported history of having engaging in a physical fight and a selected list of independent variables using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Of the 6283 respondents, 50.6% (55.2% males and 46.2% females) reported having been in a physical fight in the past 12 months. Males were more likely to have been in a physical fight than females (OR = 1.71, 95% CI (1.44, 2.05)). Smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs and bullying victimization were positively associated with fighting (OR = 1.91, 95% CI (1.49, 2.45); OR = 1.48, 95% CI (1.21, 1.81); OR = 1.55, 95% CI (1.22, 1.81); and OR = 3.12, 95% CI (2.62, 3.72), respectively). Parental supervision was negatively associated with physical fighting (OR = 0.82, 95% CI (0.69, 0.98)). Both male and female substance users (cigarette smoking, alcohol and drug use) were more likely to engage in physical fighting than non-substance users (OR = 3.53, 95% CI (2.60, 4.81) for males and OR = 11.01, 95% CI (7.25, 16.73) for females). Parental supervision was negatively associated with physical fighting (OR = 0.85, 95% CI (0.72, 0.99)).

Conclusion

Prevalence of physical fighting within the last 12 months was comparable to estimates obtained in European countries. We also found clustering of problem behaviours or experiences among adolescents who reported having engaged in physical violence in the past 12 months. There is a need to bring adolescent violent behaviour to the fore of the public health agenda in Namibia.