Prevalence and correlates of physical fighting among school-going adolescents in Santiago, Chile.
OBJECTIVE
There is a growing interest in injury as a public health issue across the world. There is paucity of data on the prevalence and social correlates of non-fatal interpersonal violence in low- and middle-income income nations. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of, and associated factors for physical fighting among school-going adolescents in Santiago, Chile.


METHODS
We conducted a secondary analysis of the Chilean Global School-Based Health Survey conducted in 2004 in Santiago. We aimed to assess the prevalence and social correlates of having been involved in a physical fight in the prior 12 months.


RESULTS
Of the 2111 respondents, 40.7% (54.3% males and 26.6% females) reported having been in a physical fight in the prior 12 months. Males were more likely to have been in a physical fight than females [OR = 3.89, 95% CI (3.11, 4.85)]. Substance use (cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs) and bullying victimization were positively associated with fighting [OR = 3.05, 95% CI (2.40, 3.87) for substance use, and OR = 1.65, 95% CI (1.32, 2.05) for bullying]. Parental supervision was negatively associated with physical fighting [OR = 0.62, 95% CI (0.50, 0.78)].


CONCLUSIONS
We have estimated the prevalence of having engaged in a physical fight among in-school adolescents in Santiago, Chile. We have found that the prevalence is similar to what has been reported in diverse settings in Africa, Europe and North America.
Rudatsikira
Emmanuel
E
Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA.
Muula
Adamson S
AS
Siziya
Seter
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D017677:Age Distribution; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*