@article{ref1,
title="The inter-relationship between employment status and interpersonal violence in Malawi: a trauma center experience",
journal="World journal of surgery",
year="2020",
author="Purcell, Laura N. and Kayange, Linda and Gallaher, Jared and Varela, Carlos and Charles, Anthony",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: As a proportion of the overall population, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has the highest youth demographic, composing 60% of Africa's unemployed. With the worsening economic crisis in low- and middle-income countries, unengaged youth are susceptible to gang violence and anti-government demonstrations, resulting in political instability.   METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of the Kamuzu Central Hospital Trauma Registry from 2008-2018. All adult patients (>14 years) injured by interpersonal violence (IPV) were included. Age was categorized as 15-24 (youth), 25-45, and >45 years. A bivariate analysis (IPV versus unintentional injury), and Poisson multivariable analysis were performed to identify factors increasing the risk of IPV.   RESULTS: During the study, 87,338 trauma patients presented; 30,532 (35.0%) were injured following IPV. Patients injured following IPV (28 years, IQR 23-34) were younger than those unintentionally injured (30 years, IQR 23-39, p < 0.001). More patients injured following IPV were unemployed (n = 7,178, 23.6% vs. n = 10,148, 17.9%, p < 0.001), injured at night (n = 19,346, 63.7% vs. n = 10,148, 17.9%, p < 0.001), and reported alcohol use (n = 4.973, 16.4% vs n = 2,461, 4.4%, p < 0.001). Being unemployed (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.22-1.27), youth compared to age >45 years (RR 1.72, 1.66-1.79), and those injured at night (RR 2.18, 95% CI 2.14-2.23) had increased the risk of being victims of IPV.   CONCLUSION: In Malawi, there is an interrelationship between unemployment and IPV, particularly in the youth population. Given impending demographic realities, government and non-government organizations should prioritize youth employment to help defer political instability in vulnerable nation-states.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0364-2313",
doi="10.1007/s00268-020-05592-1",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05592-1"
}