Correlates of emotional violence against children in Rwanda: Findings from a cross-sectional national survey

INTRODUCTION: National data on children affected by violence are critical in preventing violence against children. Rwanda conducted its first cross-sectional national survey on violence against children in 2015. This study used data from the Rwanda Survey to describe the profile of children affected by emotional violence (EV) and to assess factors associated with it in Rwanda. METHODS: A sample of 1,110 children (618 boys and 492 girls) aged 13–17 from the Rwanda Survey was analysed. Weighted descriptive statistics were applied to describe the prevalence of EV and the profile of children affected by it. In addition, factors associated with EV were investigated using logistic regression. RESULTS: Male children were more likely to experience EV than female children. Nine percent (8.87%, 95% CI [6.95–11.25]) of male children versus five percent (5.17%, 95% CI [3.79–7.03]) of female children reported having experienced EV in their lifetime. Seven percent (6.77%, 95% CI [5.15–8.84]) of male children versus four percent of female children (3.97%, 95% CI [2.83–5.54]) reported having experienced EV in the last twelve months before the survey. Fathers and mothers were the top two perpetrators of EV against children. Seventeen percent of male children (17.09%, 95% CI [11.06–25.47]) and 12 percent of female children (11.89%, 95% CI [6.97,19.55]) reported EV by their fathers. Mothers were responsible for nineteen percent (19.25%, 95% CI [12.94–27.65]) of EV reported by male children and eleven percent (10.78%, 95% CI [5.77–19.25]) of EV reported by female children. Female children (OR = 0.48, 95% CI [0.31–0.76]) and children with some trust in people from their communities (OR = 0.47, 95% CI [0.23–0.93]) were less likely to report EV. Factors associated with risk for EV were not attending school (OR = 1.80, 95% CI [1.10–2.92]), living with father only (OR = 2.96, 95% CI [1.21–7.85]), not feeling close to biological parents (OR = 7.18, 95% CI [2.12–24.37]), living in a larger household (OR = 1.81, 95% CI [1.03–3.19]), not having a friend (OR = 2.08, 95% CI [1.02–4.11]), and not feeling safe in the community (OR = 2.56, 95% CI [1.03–6.38]). CONCLUSION: EV against children was pervasive in Rwanda, with parents topping the list of its perpetrators. Children from unsupportive socioeconomic family environments, i.e., children without a close relationship with biological parents, children not attending school, children living with their fathers only, children from larger households of five people and more, children without a friend, and children who reported not feeling safe in their communities, were identified as groups of children vulnerable to emotional violence in Rwanda. A family-centred approach, focusing on positive parenting and protecting vulnerable children, is needed to reduce emotional violence against children and the risk factors associated with it in Rwanda.