Associations between Endorsement of Inequitable Gender Norms, Justification of Intimate Partner Violence and Violence Victimisation and Perpetration in Childhood in Uganda’s Refugee Settlements

Peter Kisaakye, Makerere University
Stella Muthuri, Population Council
George Odwe, Population Council
Caroline W. Kabiru, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Dagim Habteyesus, Population Council
Yadeta Dessie, Haramaya University
Yohannes Dibaba Wado, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)
Bonnie Wandera, African Population and Health Research Center
Gloria Seruwagi, Population Council
Francis Obare, Population Council
Chi-Chi Undie, Population Council

There is a significant gap in understanding the associations between inequitable gender norms, justification of partner or non-partner violence, and experiences of childhood violence or perpetration of violence within humanitarian contexts, and from the perspective of children. We used data from the Uganda Humanitarian Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS), a representative, multistage, cross-sectional household survey of 2,265 children and youth (1338 females and 927 males) aged 13–24 years living in refugee settlements in Uganda. We explored associations between endorsement of inequitable gender norms, justification of intimate partner violence (IPV), and experiences of violence (sexual, physical, emotional) and/or perpetration of violence (sexual, physical) in childhood. Females had higher odds of victimization if they endorsed inequitable gender norms (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=2.12; confidence interval [CI]=1.21-3.70) or had supportive views of justifiable IPV (aOR=1.93; CI=1.15-3.24) compared to those that did not. Males who had supportive views of justifiable IPV had higher odds of victimization (aOR=2.18; CI=1.43-3.33) and perpetration (aOR=2.73; CI=1.35-5.53) compared to males who did not justify IPV. Our findings suggest the need for gender-transformative violence prevention interventions that start earlier in the life course, and that address inequitable gender socialization and power relations.

Keywords: Migrant Populations and Refugees, Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

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