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ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENTThe prevalence of adverse childhood experiencesand their relationship with behavioral factors in theAlbanian young populationGentiana Qirjako 1,2 , Genc Burazeri 1,2 , Bajram Hysa 3 , Erka Amursi 2 ,Alban Ylli 1,2 , Gazmend Bejtja 4 , Vasil Miho 5 , Dinesh Sethi 61Faculty of Public Health, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania;2Institute of Public Health, Tirana, Albania;3Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania;4Ministry of Health, Tirana, Albania;5WHO Country Office, Tirana, Albania;6WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark.Aim: In the past decade, several international studieshave reported on the links between child maltreatment,risky behaviors and various chronic diseases.Our survey aimed to describe the magnitude ofAdverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) in theAlbanian young population and their associationswith risky behaviors.Methods: This survey was conducted in arepresentative sample of young adults (N=1437)selected from public universities [971 females (67.6%)and 466 males (32.4%); mean age: 21.2±2.3 years].The data collection consisted of an anonymous andself-administered structured questionnaire.Results: Results showed that the prevalence of childmaltreatment in this student population was high:sexual abuse 6%, physical abuse 42%, and emotionalabuse 51%. Overall, 14% of the students reportedat least four ACEs and almost half of themreported two or more ACEs. As for the lifestyle/behavioral factors, ACEs were positively associatedwith smoking, alcohol consumption, early lifetimesexual intercourse, number of sexual partners (>3)and unwanted pregnancies.Conclusion: Of particular importance, the findingsof this study conducted in Albania show that theodds of developing health risk behaviors such assmoking, alcohol abuse, illicit drug use, multiplesexual partners and suicide attempts increase withthe ACE score, implying a causal relationship.Appropriate strategies are needed for the preventionof child maltreatment in Albania.Keywords: adverse childhood experiences, alcohol abuse, behavioral factors, drug use, lifestyle factors, smoking.14 ALBANIAN MEDICAL JOURNAL SUPPLEMENT