Background Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most studied cases of wartime sexual violence, reliable population-based data on such violence remain lacking. This study provides nationally representative prevalence estimates of direct, family-level, and community-level exposure to sexual violence nearly 30 years after the 1992–1995 war, and reports descriptive associations with selected psychosocial indicators.  Methods We conducted a face-to-face household survey of 2,059 adults in 2024 using stratified, multi-stage sampling. Personal, family, and community exposure to wartime sexual violence were measured as part of a module recording victimization experiences. To assess potential underreporting, we included list experiments as an indirect measure.  Results Personal exposure to wartime sexual violence was reported by <InlineEquation ID="IEq1"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(1.6\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> of respondents, while <InlineEquation ID="IEq2"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(6.0\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> reported family exposure and <InlineEquation ID="IEq3"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(11.3\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> indicated that someone in their community had been victimized. Family exposure varied sharply by ethnicity, with <InlineEquation ID="IEq4"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(10.2\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> among Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim), <InlineEquation ID="IEq5"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(1.5\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> among Croat, and <InlineEquation ID="IEq6"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(1.1\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> among Serb respondents. List experiment results yielded comparable estimates: <InlineEquation ID="IEq7"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(2.4\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> for personal exposure and <InlineEquation ID="IEq8"> <EquationSource Format="TEX">\(9.6\%\)</EquationSource> </InlineEquation> for family exposure. Respondents reporting exposure exhibited lower well-being, poorer self-rated health, more frequent sleep disturbances, and higher levels of domestic violence.  Conclusions These findings provide the first robust, nationally representative estimates of wartime sexual violence exposure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They underscore the enduring social and health consequences of wartime sexual violence and highlight the need for sustained mental health and social support interventions to address its intergenerational legacy.

Exposure to wartime sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina: nationally representative prevalence 30 years after the 1992–1995 war

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2025年12月23日

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Max Schaub,
Alina Greiner-Filsinger,
Ajla Henic,
Lennart Kasserra

摘要

Background

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the most studied cases of wartime sexual violence, reliable population-based data on such violence remain lacking. This study provides nationally representative prevalence estimates of direct, family-level, and community-level exposure to sexual violence nearly 30 years after the 1992–1995 war, and reports descriptive associations with selected psychosocial indicators.

Methods

We conducted a face-to-face household survey of 2,059 adults in 2024 using stratified, multi-stage sampling. Personal, family, and community exposure to wartime sexual violence were measured as part of a module recording victimization experiences. To assess potential underreporting, we included list experiments as an indirect measure.

Results

Personal exposure to wartime sexual violence was reported by \(1.6\%\) of respondents, while \(6.0\%\) reported family exposure and \(11.3\%\) indicated that someone in their community had been victimized. Family exposure varied sharply by ethnicity, with \(10.2\%\) among Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim), \(1.5\%\) among Croat, and \(1.1\%\) among Serb respondents. List experiment results yielded comparable estimates: \(2.4\%\) for personal exposure and \(9.6\%\) for family exposure. Respondents reporting exposure exhibited lower well-being, poorer self-rated health, more frequent sleep disturbances, and higher levels of domestic violence.

Conclusions

These findings provide the first robust, nationally representative estimates of wartime sexual violence exposure in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They underscore the enduring social and health consequences of wartime sexual violence and highlight the need for sustained mental health and social support interventions to address its intergenerational legacy.