[A survey on violence among primary and secondary school students in Hefei city]

To explore the features of violence among primary and secondary school students in Hefei, and to set up intervention measures for violence prevention.

Four schools in Hefei were randomly sampled in the study. A total of 3064 students completed a questionnaire.

16.22% of the pupils reported having suffered from violence at least once every month. The rate was higher in boys than that in girls's (chi(2) = 25.13, P = 0.000). The major assaulters were from classmates (45.80%), with hand beating (37.42%), insulting (31.21%), threatening (20.88%), and 10.49% using sticks and sharp weapons. Most violence occurred at school (46.08%), followed by at home (28.41%) and outside of schools (25.51%), with significant difference (P = 0.000). As a result, 3.33% ended up with fractures, and 0.51% with disability. 97 pupils reported having assaulted others frequently (3.21%). Being irritated (47.38%) was the major reason for the violence to occur.

Violence among primary and secondary school students in Hefei city was serious that called for targeted education be strengthened and school environment be improved.