Risk Factors of Adolescent Exposure to Violence in Burkina Faso

Ronald Musizvingoza, United Nations University
Nyasha Tirivayi, UNICEF-Office of Research-Innocenti, Florence, Italy
Frank Otchere, UNICEF-Office of Research-Innocenti, Florence, Italy
Francesca Viola, UNICEF-Office of Research-Innocenti, Florence, Italy

Violence against children and adolescents is a significant global public health issue. This study investigates the gender-specific factors related to violence exposure among adolescents in Burkina Faso. Using data from the Child-Sensitive Social Protection Programme, the study found that psychological violence (22.7%) was more prevalent than physical violence (9.1%) in households. Girls reported more physical violence, while boys reported more psychological violence. Risk factors for violence exposure among girls included orphanhood, living in a household receiving safety nets, and residing in a Muslim-majority community. For boys, risk factors included age, school attendance, disability, living in a household receiving safety nets, living in a household with a depressed individual, and residing in a Muslim-majority community. These findings underscore the importance of considering family background and gender in interventions aimed at reducing violence against children and adolescents.