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

As part of a Child Abuse and Neglect Journal special issue on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), this study estimates the prevalence of six individual and cumulative ACE exposures (physical, sexual, and emotional violence; orphanhood; witnessing interparental and community violence) and assess their association with mental health outcomes, substance use, and violence perpetration among young adults in sub-Saharan Africa.

The study uses aggregate data from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey (VACS) in Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Namibia, and included a sample of 11,498 young adults aged 18–24 years.

The study concludes that ACEs are associated with adverse mental health, substance use, and violence perpetration in SSA. Gender-specific and culturally sensitive intervention strategies are needed to effectively mitigate ACEs in this population.

Access the full issue in the Journal of Child Abuse and Neglect on ScienceDirect.