Table 1.
Sociodemographic and violence characteristics of the young adolescents (N = 416).
| Variable Characteristics | n | % | n | % | n | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sociodemographic Characteristics | ||||||
| Tribe | ||||||
| Yao | 156 | 37.5 | ||||
| Chewa | 83 | 20.0 | ||||
| Lhomwe | 111 | 26.7 | ||||
| Other | 73 | 17.5 | ||||
| Religion | ||||||
| Christians | 251 | 60.3 | ||||
| Moslems | 165 | 39.7 | ||||
| Participation in religious activities | ||||||
| Choir | 153 | 36.9 | ||||
| Youth group | 134 | 32.3 | ||||
| Prayer meeting | 125 | 30.0 | ||||
| Night prayers | 61 | 14.7 | ||||
| HIV Risk Perception | ||||||
| Worry of contracting HIV infection currently (n = 392) | ||||||
| Perceived no worry | 267 | 68.1 | ||||
| Perceived worry | 125 | 31.9 | ||||
| Perceived chances of contracting HIV in the future(n = 402) | ||||||
| Perceived no chance | 183 | 45.5 | ||||
| Perceived a chance | 289 | 54.5 | ||||
| Home-based violence | ||||||
| Ever punched, slapped, or whipped in the home | ||||||
| No | 246 | 64.4 | ||||
| Yes | 136 | 35.6 | ||||
| Age first punched, slapped, or whipped in the home | ||||||
| 6–12 years | 70 | 65.4 | ||||
| 13–14 years | 37 | 34.6 | ||||
| School-based violence | On the way to school | By Schoolmates | By Teachers | |||
| Teased or upset | ||||||
| Never | 303 | 72.8 | 285 | 65.5 | 345 | 82.9 |
| Few times | 15 | 3.6 | 115 | 27.6 | 61 | 14.7 |
| Many times | 98 | 23.6 | 16 | 3.8 | 10 | 2.4 |
| Punched, slapped, or whipped | ||||||
| Never | 241 | 76.3 | 327 | 78.6 | 305 | 73.3 |
| Few times | 64 | 20.2 | 77 | 18.5 | 100 | 24.0 |
| Many times | 11 | 3.5 | 12 | 2.5 | 11 | 2.6 |
| Sexual comments | ||||||
| Never | 313 | 75.2 | 322 | 77.4 | 357 | 85.8 |
| Few times | 72 | 17.3 | 83 | 20 | 49 | 11.8 |
| Many times | 31 | 7.5 | 11 | 2.6 | 10 | 2.4 |
| Touched on breasts, buttocks, or genitalia | ||||||
| Never | 359 | 86.3 | 355 | 85.3 | 377 | 90.6 |
| Few times | 48 | 11.5 | 49 | 11.8 | 29 | 7.0 |
| Many times | 9 | 2.2 | 12 | 2.9 | 10 | 2.4 |