All: To truly invest in children, Africa’s leaders must invest in what keeps them safe

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Adverse childhood experiences, HIV and sexual risk behaviors in five sub-Saharan countries

This study uses VACS data from five sub-Saharan countries to identify associations between exposures to ACEs and sexual risk behaviors and HIV service utilization among young people.

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Patterns of adverse childhood experiences and their associations with mental distress, substance use and sexual risk behaviors in Sub-Saharan Africa

Using VACS data, this study assesses how multiple ACEs co-occur and how dominant patterns of co-occurrence are associated with mental distress, substance use, and sexual risk behaviors among young women and men in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Parenting-related positive childhood experiences, adverse childhood experiences, and mental health in four sub-Saharan African countries

Using VACS data, this study assesses the associations between ACEs and negative health outcomes and risk-taking behaviors among young adults and evaluates whether — and which — Positive Childhood Experiences moderate the association between ACEs and these outcomes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Approaches for measuring cumulative childhood adversity: A study of youth from 5 sub-Saharan African countries

Using VACS data from Lesotho, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Namibia, and Mozambique, this study assesses approaches to quantifying cumulative childhood adversity (CCA) resulting from four types of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Service-seeking behaviors among male victims of violence in five African countries: The effects of positive and adverse childhood experiences

Using VACS data, this study analyzes the association between positive and adverse childhood experiences (PCEs and ACEs), and seeking post-violence services among males in five countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Adverse childhood experiences and associations with mental health, substance use, and violence perpetration among young adults in sub-Saharan Africa

Using VACS data this study estimates the prevalence of six ACE exposures and assesses their association with mental health outcomes, substance use, and violence perpetration among young adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Parental absence as an adverse childhood experience among young adults in sub-Saharan Africa

Using VACS data, this study assesses whether parental absence in childhood is associated with poor mental health and substance use in young adulthood among youth in sub-Saharan Africa.

Child abuse neglect journal
VACS journal articles

Prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences in sub-Saharan Africa: A multicountry analysis of the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys (VACS)

This study utilises VACS data to estimate the prevalence of ACEs in five low- and middle-income sub-Saharan African countries.