Associations between childhood violence and mental health in refugee settings in Uganda

Childhood violence and mental health remain concerning public health issues globally yet there is limited evidence on the associations between experiences of such violence and mental health in refugee settings.

This paper assesses the association between experiences of childhood violence (sexual, physical, and emotional violence) and mental health (severe mental distress, self-harm, suicidal ideation and/or attempted suicide) in refugee settings in Uganda. Childhood exposure to violence was associated with poor mental health, with a higher risk observed among females.

The findings of this paper provide critical insights to facilitate the development or strengthening of violence prevention and response interventions on violence against children in refugee settings.