Child maltreatment in India
Pratibha Singhi1, Arushi Gahlot Saini, Prabhjot Malhi
1Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Insights
Child maltreatment is a significant issue in India, particularly in resource-poor settings. Addressing child abuse requires increased physician awareness and community-based non-violence initiatives for better child protection.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Child Development
- Social Sciences
Background:
- Child maltreatment presents unique challenges in developing nations like India, home to a substantial child population.
- Specific forms of abuse, including feticide, infanticide, child labor, and corporal punishment, are prevalent in India.
- Physician awareness regarding unexplained trauma and other indicators of child abuse needs enhancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the multifaceted problem of child maltreatment in resource-limited environments.
- To aid in developing services for child physical and sexual abuse and neglect in India and similar developing countries.
- To advocate for a culture of non-violence and community support for child development.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of existing data on child maltreatment in India.
- Analysis of prevalent forms of abuse and contributing factors in resource-poor settings.
- Discussion of strategies for service planning and community intervention.
Main Results:
- Child maltreatment is widespread in India, with specific forms being particularly concerning.
- A significant gap exists in physician recognition of child abuse indicators.
- Effective intervention necessitates community-wide efforts and specialized services.
Conclusions:
- A multi-disciplinary approach involving healthcare professionals, psychologists, social workers, and law enforcement is crucial for rehabilitation.
- Building a community culture of non-violence is essential for creating a safe environment for children.
- Enhanced training and sensitization programs are vital for improving the response to child abuse in India and other developing countries.
Abstract:
Child maltreatment is a global problem but is more difficult to assess and manage in developing countries such as India where one-fifth of the world's total child population resides. Certain forms of maltreatment such as feticide, infanticide, abandonment, child labour, street-begging, corporal punishment and battered babies are particularly prevalent in India. Most physicians still need to be sensitized in order to suspect child abuse on the basis of unexplained trauma, multiple fractures, parental conflict and other corroborative evidence. This article summarizes the various aspects of this major problem in resource-poor settings in the hope that it will assist in the planning of services addressing child physical and sexual abuse and neglect in India and in other developing countries. A culture of non-violence towards children needs to be built into communities in order to provide an environment conducive to the overall development of the child. Rehabilitation of abused children and their families requires a multi-disciplinary service including paediatricians, child psychologists and social workers, and the training of police forces in how to tackle the problem.
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