Prevalence and Correlates of Abusive Behaviours in Upper Egyptian Adolescents: Violence, Sexual Abuse Victimisation, and Substance Abuse among Blood Group Types Subsets
Raouf M. Afifi *
Community Health Research Institute, International Management-Health Services, Indianapolis, IN, USA and Health Research Institute, SA Consultancy and Training, Cairo, Egypt.
Ashraf E. Saad
Department of Preventive Medicine, Armed Forces Hospital at Wadi Al-Dawasir, Riyadh, KSA and Department of Statistics and Information, Ministry of Health, Khartoum, Sudan.
Mostafa M. Sadek
Sadeklab Laboratories, Alexandria, Arab Republic of Egypt and Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Military Medical Academy, Formerly, Egypt.
Sameh Zaytoun
Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Deviant behaviours, namely physical violence, sexual abuse; illicit drug use are globally spreading risks. They tend to be socially concealed, rendering evaluating their impact upon population subsets difficult.
Aim: Analyse trends and correlates of violence, sexual abuse, and substance abuse victimisation among adolescents in Upper Egypt.
Methods: Youth aged 15-21 were randomly selected and cross-sectioned; and a validated questionnaire was used to achieve study aim.
Results: Out of 1225 recruits, 30.2% were 15-<17, 58.9% were 17-<19, 10.9% were 19-21y old; and 66.0% were male. Half (49.5%) of participants was of a low socioeconomic status (SES). Recognised victimisation rates of violence and sexual abuses were 42.0% and 8.7%, respectively; the prevalence of substance abuse mounted 9.4%. Those 15-<17y old were more liable to violence victimisation than older peers [(181/360) (50.3%), χ2(df=2)=18.6, p<0.0001]. Male participants were at a greater risk for violence victimisation [(400/870) (46%), χ2(df=1)=13.4, p<0.0001]; youths of the lowest SES had a similar tendency, too [(213/487) (43.7%), χ2(df=2)=6.8, p=0.03]. Being a female or of a low SES was associated with a higher sexual abuse incidence [(49/325) (15.0%), χ2(df=1)=25.9, p<0.0001; 52/465 (11.1%), χ2(df=2)=7.9, p=0.018], respectively. Male and the highest SES adolescents were more likely to abuse substance [(72/650) (11.0%), χ2(df=1)=6.5, p=0.011; (41/212) (19.4%), χ2(df=2)=33.1, p<0.0001], respectively. The frequency of substance abuse among AB blood group candidates was higher than among other groups [χ2(df=3)=132.9, p<0.0001].
Conclusions: Abusive acts victimisation is prevalent among Egyptian adolescents in Upper Egypt. Male gender and low SES are risks for physical abuse victimisation; high SES is risk for substance abuse. Prevalence of substance abuse among AB blood type individuals mandates further genetic and haematological research. Influenced by age and socioeconomic circumstances, a dynamic preventive approach guided by massive screening for early detection of risk groups is warranted.
Keywords: Violence, sexual abuse, substance abuse, blood group, adolescents, Egypt