Child abuse in 28 developing and transitional countries--results from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys

Area of Science:

• Global child health
• Public health research
• Sociology

Background:

• Child abuse is a significant global public health and social issue.
• Prevalence and associated factors of child abuse require comprehensive investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the prevalence of different forms of child abuse across countries and regions.
• To identify factors associated with various types of child abuse.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 28 countries in the third round of Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS) (2005-2006).
• Analyzed data from 124,916 children aged 2-14 years.
• Employed multilevel logistic regression to examine correlates of psychological, moderate, and severe physical abuse.

Main Results:

• Median prevalence of psychological abuse was 83% in Africa vs. 56% in transitional countries.
• Median prevalence of moderate physical abuse was 64% in Africa vs. 46% in transitional countries.
• Median prevalence of severe physical abuse was 43% in Africa vs. 9% in transitional countries.
• Parental attitudes towards corporal punishment, male gender, larger household size, and poverty were associated with increased risk of child abuse.

Conclusions:

• Child abuse is widespread, with significant regional variations, particularly high in African countries.
• Population-based interventions, including educational programs, are recommended to raise public awareness.
• Changing parental attitudes towards corporal punishment is crucial for child abuse prevention, considering local contexts for intervention strategies.