Factors associated with recent physical violence against orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) in Namibia : a cross-sectional analysis of programmatic data from 2023 to 2024

Abstract

BACKGROUND : An estimated one billion children aged two to 17 years globally have experienced physical, sexual, or emotional violence or neglect. In Namibia, nearly 50% of girls and boys encounter physical, sexual, or emotional violence during childhood. Orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) experience significant adverse effects as a result of their living conditions. OBJECTIVE : This study assessed the rate of physical violence and its associated factors against OVC in Namibia. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING : The study included OVC aged 0 to 20 years in 13 primary health administrative districts in Namibia. METHODS : This retrospective cross-sectional study utilized programmatic data collected from 2023 to 2024 from OVC participating in the Reach program, implemented by Project Hope Namibia. The study included OVC aged 0 to 20 years. Data were analyzed utilizing IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29. Chi-square tests and binomial and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS : Among the 16,507 participants included in this analysis, 1803 (10.9%) participants were recently physically abused, 95% confidence interval (CI) (10.4% – 11.4%). Omuthiya had the highest physical abuse rate (n = 73; 18.2%), while Outapi had the lowest (n = 47; 8.4%). Participants aged 10-14 years were less likely to have experienced recent physical abuse than those aged 15-20, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.81, 95% CI (0.70 – 0.95). Disabled participants had a lower likelihood of reporting recent physical abuse than the non-disabled ones (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.41 – 0.93)). Furthermore, participants who had caregivers who were HIV-positive were less likely to have experienced recent physical abuse than those whose caregivers were HIV-negative (crude odds ratio (COR) = 0.25, 95% CI (0.06 – 0.99). In contrast, participants from Omuthiya were more likely to have experienced recent physical abuse than those from Windhoek (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI (1.25 – 2.43)). CONCLUSION : Violence against children (VAC) awareness campaigns in high-risk districts, focusing on physical violence and community-level behavior change, must be expanded. Periodical regional VAC assessments must be conducted to identify and address localized drivers of violence.

HIGHLIGHTS • 10.9% of OVC were recently physically abused. • Omuthiya had the highest physical abuse rate, while Outapi had the lowest. • Participants aged 10-14 years and the disabled were less likely to have experienced recent physical abuse.