Spatial distribution and ecological correlates of sexual, physical and emotional violence against adolescent girls and young women in Namibia: a geospatial analysis of a national cross-sectional survey
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Violence against children and young people is a major global public health issue with significant consequences for individuals and society. However, its prevalence varies substantially by geography. Understanding where violence is concentrated is vital for identifying high-risk areas and designing targeted interventions. This study aimed to describe the spatial patterns and clustering of sexual (SV), physical (PV) and emotional violence (EV) against adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Namibia, examine associations between violence prevalence and area-level measures of individual characteristics in high-prevalence areas, and assess whether these associations vary geographically. Methods: We used aggregated data from the 2019 Namibia Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, which sampled 4199 AGYW aged 13-24 from 56 of 121 constituencies across Namibia. Global and Local Moran's I were used to assess spatial clustering and hotspots of violence. Ordinary least squares regression was used to identify significant area-level compositional factors associated with violence prevalence, and geographically weighted regression was applied to examine spatial heterogeneity of these associations. Results: SV (r=0.521, p<0.01) and EV (r=0.489, p<0.01) showed statistically significant spatial clustering, with higher prevalence in central and northern Namibia. We found that PV (I=0.042, p=0.215) was geographically dispersed. Hotspots of PV and EV co-occurred in central and northern regions. The strength of the associations between violence forms and aggregated indicators varied significantly across constituencies, indicating that relationships were not uniform countrywide. In high-prevalence areas, findings showed that included indicators explained less variation, suggesting that additional unaccounted factors may be involved. Conclusions: Violence against AGYW in Namibia is spatially patterned and context-specific. This study provides the first constituency-level spatial analysis of SV, PV and EV among AGYW in Namibia, demonstrating that both prevalence and associated risk factors vary geographically. These findings highlight the importance of integrating geospatial evidence into national violence prevention strategies and tailoring interventions to local risk profiles.
Source: BMJ Public Health
Language: English
Topic: Child Abuse and Trauma
Subfield: Clinical Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7222011038