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

Abstract

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 of respondents, while reported family exposure and indicated that someone in their community had been victimized. Family exposure varied sharply by ethnicity, with among Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim), among Croat, and among Serb respondents. List experiment results yielded comparable estimates: for personal exposure and 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.