Bullying Victimization in Benin: Prevalence and its Correlates among in-School Adolescents

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2015

Abstract

Bullying victimization is a serious problem among in-school adolescents. Because of limited reports on bullying among adolescents in Benin, a study was conducted to determine the prevalence and correlates for bullying victimization among school-going adolescents in Benin. Secondary analysis of data was conducted using the 2009 Benin Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) data. Logistic regression analyses were done to estimate associations between selected explanatory variables and the outcome (bullying victimization). Out of 2,690 in-school adolescents, 49.3% were of age 16 years or older, 66.9% were males and 40.1% reported having been bullied at least once in the previous 30 days to the survey (39.2% among boys versus 42.0% among girls). Male adolescents were 11% (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88–0.90) less likely to be bullied compared to female adolescents. Participants who drank alcohol were 45% more likely to be bullied than those who did not drink alcohol (AOR=1.45; 95% CI 1.43-1.47). Adolescents who smoked cigarettes were 24% (AOR = 1.24; 95% CI 1.21–1.28) more likely to be bullied compared to non-smokers. Those who reported being involved in physical fighting were 77% more likely to be bullied than those who were not involved in physical fighting (AOR=1.77; 95% CI 1.75-1.79). Adolescents who had parental supervision were 10% (AOR=0.90; 95% CI 0.89, 0.91) less likely to be bullied than those who did not have parental supervision. Efforts to prevent and control bullying should take into consideration the factors identified in this study.

Journal Title

International Journal of Child and Adolescent Health

Volume

8

Issue

1

First Page

75

Last Page

83

First Department

Public Health, Nutrition and Wellness

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