VACS journal articles

Effects of poly-victimization before age 18 on health outcomes in young Kenyan adults: Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

This study explores the collective effects of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional violence on selected self-reported health outcomes among young Kenyan females and males using the Violence Against Children Survey (VACS).

Prevalence of violence victimization and perpetration among persons aged 13–24 years: Four sub-Saharan African countries, 2013–2015

From 2013 to 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collaborated with Together for Girls and the governments of Malawi, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia to plan and implement Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys.

Risk factors for childhood violence and poly-victimization: A cross-country analysis from three regions

Explore this analysis looking at risk factors of childhood emotional, physical, sexual violence, and polyvictimization for children aged 13–17 from Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys across six countries.

Cycle of violence among young Kenyan women: The link between childhood violence and adult physical intimate partner violence in a population-based survey

This study explores the association between emotional, physical, and sexual violence against children with physical intimate partner violence in young adulthood.

Missed treatment opportunities and barriers to comprehensive treatment for sexual violence survivors in Kenya: A mixed methods study

This study compares the characteristics of survivors who present for healthcare to those of survivors reporting violence on national surveys; understand the healthcare services provided to survivors; and, identify barriers to treatment.

The multi-country study on the drivers of violence affecting children in Zimbabwe: Using a mixed methods, multi-stakeholder approach to discover what drives violence

Explore this article on what drives violence against children in Zimbabwe and what can be done to address them.

Sampling design and methodology of the Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys

This study describes the surveys’ target population, sampling design, statistical considerations, data collection process, priority violence indicators, and data dissemination.

Adverse childhood experiences and HIV sexual risk-taking behaviors among young adults in Malawi

This analysis explores the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and HIV sexual risk-taking behaviors among young adults in Malawi.

Critical elements of interviewer training for engaging children and adolescents in global violence research: Best practices and lessons learned from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS)

This white paper seeks to fill a gap in the field by describing strategies for interviewer recruitment and training for population-based studies on violence with child research participants.

Who perpetrates violence against children? A systematic analysis of agespecific and sex-specific data

Emotional abuse of girls in Swaziland: Prevalence, perpetrators, risk and protective factors, and health outcomes

This article explores the analysis of the associations between emotional abuse and putative risk, and protective factors and health outcomes.

What explains childhood violence? Micro correlates from Violence Against Children and Youth Surveys

This paper uses data on childhood violence for 10,042 individuals from Cambodia, Kenya, Swaziland, Tanzania.