Violence and non-fatal injuries among Thai adolescents: National prevalence, and sex-stratified risk and protective factors

Abstract

Objectives: We conducted a sex-stratified analysis to assess the prevalence and predictors of violence and non-fatal injury among adolescents attending school in Thailand.

Methods: The data for this study were obtained from the Thailand Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS), a nationally representative survey conducted in 2021 with a sample size of 5661 students aged 13-17 years. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to examine the protective factors and risk factors that influence non-fatal injury and violence. The regression analysis was reported using adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs), with a p-value < 0.05.

Results: The national prevalence of violence and non-fatal injury among school-going adolescents was 11.6 % and 52.6 %, respectively. Boys had a substantially higher prevalence of violence (7.6 %) and non-fatal injury (26.4 %) compared to girls (3.6 % and 24.1 %, respectively). Stratifying by sex, school truancy, and bullying were associated with violence and non-fatal injuries in girls, as well as suicidal ideation, anxiety, hunger, and various health risk behaviors, like tobacco, alcohol, and cigarette use, were found to be associated with violence and non-fatal injuries in boys. In contrast, parental supervision, peer support, and sedentary behavior were found to be protective factors for Thai adolescents.

Conclusions: Future policies should consider individual risk factors and parent-child-teacher bonding to mitigate the burden of violence and injury among in-school adolescents in Thailand.

Keywords: Bullying; Non-fatal injury; Parental supervision; School truancy; Thai adolescents; Violence.