Sexual violence in Haiti after the earthquake: Results from the violence against children survey, 2012

Introduction: Sexual violence (SV) is of particular concern for displaced persons during complex humanitarian emergencies. Objectives: To determine if Haitian youth aged 13-24 who were displaced and/or living in camps due to... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction: Sexual violence (SV) is of particular concern for displaced persons during complex humanitarian emergencies.
Objectives: To determine if Haitian youth aged 13-24 who were displaced and/or living in camps due to the 2010 earthquake had a higher likelihood of experiencing SV after the earthquake.
Methods: The Violence Against Children Survey was a nationally representative, cross-sectional household survey conducted May–June 2012 in Haiti and used a stratified multi-stage cluster design including households and camps containing displaced persons from the 2010 earthquake. Youth aged 13–24 (n = 2,916) were interviewed to assess exposure to SV, if they had been displaced by the earthquake and/or if they lived in a camp. Adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated using multivariate logistic regression comparing the prevalence of experiencing post-earthquake sexual violence amongst displaced persons and those residing in a camp compared to those non-displaced and having never lived in a camp. Control variables included those predictive of experiencing SV and being displaced/living in a camp.
Results: Females who were displaced (but not to a camp) did not experience more post-earthquake sexual violence (PQSV) [Adjusted Prevalence Ratio (APR) 1.10 (95% CI 0.85-1.43)] compared to non-displaced females. However, females residing in camps had a higher likelihood of PQSV compared to non-displaced females [APR 1.31 (95% CI 1.06-1.61)]. Displacement had a protective effect for males, who had a lesser likelihood of experiencing PQSV compared to non-displaced males [APR 0.67 (95% CI 0.48-0.93)]. There was however no significant difference in PQSV for males living in camps compared to non-displaced males 1.05 (95’’% CI 0.75-1.47)].
Conclusions: Females living in camps had a higher prevalence of experiencing post-earthquake sexual violence highlighting the importance of improving camp safety. The fact that displacement was protective for males demonstrates the importance of contextual factors in understanding sexual violence after complex humanitarian emergencies.