A study conducted by UNICEF across the country in 2013 has established that more boys in Malawi experience the horrors of abuse including sexual exploitation than girls, Malawi24 has learnt.

A study conducted by UNICEF has established that more boys in Malawi experience abuse than girls, Malawi24 has learnt.

The study which was conducted in 2013 aimed to establish the prevalence of violence against children nationwide expose acute prevalence of violence against children with more than half of the country's children population experience violence and abuse including sexual exploitation.

A total of 2163 children (1029 girls and 1133 boys) aged between 13 and 24 participated as a representative of the country's population of children and young people.

The study found that more than 70% of boys and 55% of the girls in Malawi experience some form of violence while growing up. The findings furthermore show that nearly 67% among boys and 40% among girls are subjected to physical abuse with more than two thirds of the population experience abuse before they turn 18 years old.

"Twice as many girls as boys experience sexual abuse, and the perpetrator who is usually known to them, carries out on multiple occasions" reads a press statement issued by Unicef.

20% among girls reported being sexually abused; with 40% of first intercourse forced on girls in Malawi. It is likely that more girls experience sexual exploitation; but the sensitive nature of the subject could have made some participants not feel comfortable to reveal this.

The study reports that for most abuse that girls reported, boyfriends and/or husbands were perpetrators.

"These are uncomfortable facts -- no government or parent will want to see them," said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, adding "But unless we confront the reality each infuriating statistic represents -- the life of a child whose right to a safe, protected childhood has been violated -- we will never change the mindset that violence against children is normal and permissible. It is neither."

About 14% of the country's male children experience sexual abuse which is mainly perpetrated by a friend. The study, however, does not reveal the sex and age of the perpetrator of sexual violence.

The summary of the findings made available to Malawi24 do not reveal whether these forms of abuse including sexual exploitation are reported to law enforcement agencies.

The was undertaken jointly by Unicef Malawi, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, PEPFAR (US Govt), Centre for Disease Control (US Govt) and Centre for Social Research of the University.