Risk factors for being a victim of sexual violence of young people in Thailand and Sweden
Anchalee Thitasan a*, Osman Aytar b, Chularat Howharn c, Eva-Maria Annerbäck d, Marianne Velandiae
a Obstetric Department, Boromarajonnani College of Nursing Sunpasittiprasong, Muang, Ubon Ratchathani, 34000
b School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, P.O. Box 325, SE-631 05, Eskilstuna, Sweden
c Praboromrajchanok Institute for Health Workforce Development, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand,
24/64 Soi Thanphuying Ngamwongwan Rd. Ladyao Chatuchak Bangkok 10900 Thailand
d Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Eskilstuna Sweden.
e School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, P.O. Box 883, SE-721 23, Västerås, Sweden
Corresponding Author’s E-mail: anrakar@yahoo.com
Abstract
Background: Young people both girls and boys worldwide have been a victim of sexual violence. Sexual violence can have physical and mental effects on the victims. Sexual violence remains highly stigmatized in all settings, therefore levels of disclosure of the assault can vary between countries and can be associated with multiple factors. It is worthy to get better understanding of risk factors for being a victim of sexual violence as it can be used to inform programs seeking to promote sexual and reproductive health of young people. Aim: To examine sexual violence and associations with background factors and other types of violence in Thailand and Sweden. Method: A cross-sectional comparative study was performed among 7,334 high schools students who participated in the 2014 Life and Health Young survey in Thailand and Sweden. Data were analyzed for grade 9 and 11 or year 2 students (2,717 Thailand, 4,617 Sweden). Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the associations of demographic factors, substance use, life in school, violence, mental health, and sexual violence. Preliminary results: About 7.3% of the students in Thailand (6.8% girls and 8.1% boys) and 5.6% of students in Sweden (5.8% girls and 5.5% boys) were exposed to sexual violence. Prevalence of sexual violence was not different between girls and boys in each country. After controlling demographic factors, sexual violence of the students in the two countries was associated with getting beaten by adult and being bullied. Feeling depressed and feeling bad during the last three months were associated with sexual violence among the students in Sweden but not among the students in Thailand. Regarding to gender difference, in Thailand, sexual violence was associated with getting beaten by adult among girls but not among boys. In Sweden, sexual violence was associated with feeling bad during the last three months among boys but not among girls. Conclusions: Sexual violence and a risk of becoming sexual violence victim vary by countries. To get better understanding of the risk of becoming sexual violence victim a disparity of personal factors of young people in individual level needed to be considered.