National Baseline Study on Violence against Children and Youth (NBS-VAC) in the Philippines

Objectives. This study aimed to estimate the national prevalence of violence against Filipino children and youth as experienced in various forms and settings. Methods. About 3,866 young people aged 13-24 years from 172 randomly selected barangays (villages) nationwide participated in the survey. The questionnaire was self-administered, interviewer-administered, or interviewer-assisted, depending on the capability and preference of the respondent. Female respondents were interviewed or assisted by a female field assistant, while male field assistants guided the male respondents. The questionnaire was translated into seven local dialects and administered in the most comprehensible language to the respondent. Results. Overall, 80 percent of the 3,866 respondents experienced any one form of violence in the home, school, workplace, and community. More than 3 in five suffered from physical, psychological, and peer violence, while 22.4 percent were victims of sexual abuse. Ten percent were physically neglected, while a fourth felt psychologically neglected by their caregivers. More boys claimed to have been sexually abused and physically neglected, while more girls were bullied and witnessed psychological violence in the home. VAC prevalence was, however, found to be highest among LGBTQ+s compared to heterosexual males and females. Despite the high prevalence, less than 10 percent of respondents disclosed their experiences of abuse, primarily to friends and parents. About one in 10 ever sought help from a professional. Conclusion. There is a need to improve the implementation of child protection programs at the local level, where violence issues of heterosexual boys and girls and LGBTs are addressed.