Physical fights have been a common health problem among adolescents, and approximately a million adolescents’ lives are lost due to violence-related incidents worldwide. There is a lack of information on the burden of adolescents’ physical fights in eastern Ethiopia. Hence, the study aims to estimate the magnitude and assess factors associated with physical attacks and fighting among adolescents in eastern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 2424 adolescents in eastern Ethiopia in 2016. Simple random sampling was used to recruit study participants. Data were collected by trained interviewers using a structured questionnaire developed by the Africa Research, Implementation Science and Education (ARISE) network and adapted from the World Health Organization Global school-based student health survey. Descriptive statistics, binary and multivariable logistic regression were performed. Statistical associations were determined using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) at 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CIs) and P-value < 0.05. Prevalence of physical attacks and physical fights was 5.8%, and 26.4%, respectively. Adolescents who attended school (AOR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.9) and who chewed Khat (AOR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.8) were less likely to experience physical attacks. Male adolescents were two times more likely to engage in physical fights than female adolescents (AOR 2.4, 95% CI: 1.8–3.2). In-school adolescents who attended secondary (AOR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.7) or tertiary level of education (AOR 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1–0.7) were less likely to participate in physical fighting than those with primary level education. Adolescents who had ever engaged in physical work to earn money for food or drink were 1.9 times more likely to be physically attacked compared to those who had not (AOR 1.9, 95% CI: 1.0–3.5). Physical attacks and fights were found to be common experiences of adolescents in eastern Ethiopia. Future research and programs should emphasize preventive health programs for reducing violence and promoting school enrolment and retention.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚东部青少年之间的肢体冲突：一项横断面研究

身体打架一直是青少年常见的健康问题，全世界约有 100 万青少年因暴力相关事件丧生。缺乏关于埃塞俄比亚东部青少年身体打架负担的信息。因此，该研究旨在估计与埃塞俄比亚东部青少年身体攻击和打架相关的严重程度并评估相关因素。2016 年在埃塞俄比亚东部的 2424 名青少年中进行了一项基于社区的横断面研究。使用简单随机抽样来招募研究参与者。数据由训练有素的访谈员使用由非洲研究、实施科学与教育 (ARISE) 网络开发并改编自世界卫生组织全球学校学生健康调查的结构化问卷收集。进行了描述性统计、二元和多变量逻辑回归。使用调整后的优势比 (AOR) 在 95% 置信区间 (95% CI) 和 P 值 < 0.05 确定统计关联。物理攻击和身体打架的发生率分别为 5.8% 和 26.4%。上过学 (AOR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.9) 和咀嚼 Khat (AOR 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2–0.8) 的青少年不太可能遭受身体攻击。男性青少年参与肢体冲突的可能性是女性青少年的两倍（AOR 2.4，95% CI：1.8-3.2）。接受过中等教育（AOR 0.4，95% CI：0.2-0.7）或高等教育（AOR 0.2，95% CI：0.1-0.7）的在校青少年参加体育运动的可能性低于接受过小学教育的青少年. 与没有做过体力劳动的青少年相比，曾经从事过体力劳动以赚取食物或饮料的青少年遭受身体攻击的可能性是那些没有的青少年的 1.9 倍（AOR 1.9，95% CI：1.0-3.5）。发现身体攻击和打架是埃塞俄比亚东部青少年的常见经历。未来的研究和计划应强调预防性健康计划，以减少暴力和促进入学和留校。