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. 2016 Mar;137(3):e20154079.
doi: 10.1542/peds.2015-4079. Epub 2016 Jan 25.

Global Prevalence of Past-year Violence Against Children: A Systematic Review and Minimum Estimates

Susan Hillis  1 , James Mercy  2 , Adaugo Amobi  3 , Howard Kress  2
Affiliations

Global Prevalence of Past-year Violence Against Children: A Systematic Review and Minimum Estimates

Susan Hillis et al. Pediatrics. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Context: Evidence confirms associations between childhood violence and major causes of mortality in adulthood. A synthesis of data on past-year prevalence of violence against children will help advance the United Nations' call to end all violence against children.

Objectives: Investigators systematically reviewed population-based surveys on the prevalence of past-year violence against children and synthesized the best available evidence to generate minimum regional and global estimates.

Data sources: We searched Medline, PubMed, Global Health, NBASE, CINAHL, and the World Wide Web for reports of representative surveys estimating prevalences of violence against children.

Study selection: Two investigators independently assessed surveys against inclusion criteria and rated those included on indicators of quality.

Data extraction: Investigators extracted data on past-year prevalences of violent victimization by country, age group, and type (physical, sexual, emotional, or multiple types). We used a triangulation approach which synthesized data to generate minimum regional prevalences, derived from population-weighted averages of the country-specific prevalences.

Results: Thirty-eight reports provided quality data for 96 countries on past-year prevalences of violence against children. Base case estimates showed a minimum of 50% or more of children in Asia, Africa, and Northern America experienced past-year violence, and that globally over half of all children-1 billion children, ages 2-17 years-experienced such violence.

Limitations: Due to variations in timing and types of violence reported, triangulation could only be used to generate minimum prevalence estimates.

Conclusions: Expanded population-based surveillance of violence against children is essential to target prevention and drive the urgent investment in action endorsed in the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

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Conflict of interest statement

POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

FIGURE 1:
FIGURE 1:
Systematic review flow diagram: prevalence of violence against children.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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