Prevalence of victimization, and associated risk factors, impacting youth with disabilities in Vietnam: A population-based study

Little research exists on the victimization of youth with disabilities in Asian countries. Yet, developing Asian countries, such as Vietnam, harbor a significant number of youth with disabilities, while services to address their needs often lag behind. The objectives of this study were to: 1) identify the prevalence of reported injuries due to family violence among youth with disabilities in a nationally representative sample of Vietnamese youth, and 2) analyze the relative contribution of disability status and other factors influencing variations in the prevalence of reported injuries. This study employed the 2003 Vietnam Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth (VNSAVY), the first nationally representative, population-based survey of 7584 adolescents and young adults in Vietnam. Data collection included face-to-face interviews and self-administered surveys. Weighted bivariate and multiple logistic regressions were used to investigate the relationship among disability, violence, and selected covariates. Results indicated that approximately 14% of Vietnamese youth reported having a disability. Among these youth, approximately 3% reported victimization, in comparison to 2% of able-bodied youth. The odds of youth with disabilities reporting injuries due to family violence remained 50% higher than those without disabilities, controlling for all other variables. Gender and alcohol abuse among family members were also significant risk factors in family violence. Youth with disabilities in developing Asian countries, such as Vietnam, may be vulnerable to physical violence. Preventative programs and services are thus needed to address the unique vulnerabilities of youth with disabilities in developing contexts by screening for victimization experiences and adapting trauma-informed behavioral health services and supports.