Understanding Child Abuse in India: Insights from a Bibliometric Analysis and Qualitative Content Analysis

Child abuse continues to be a big concern for the country of India, with its huge population and massive population of children, and varied socio-cultural and religious activities. After some concerted efforts from the government and other NGOs, and with some change in literacy and awareness, this continues to be a major cause for concern. This paper would focus on the socio-cultural context, legal provisions, reporting mechanisms, and rehabilitation efforts related to child abuse in India. Using a bibliometric analysis of the literature published between 2018 and June 2025, along with a qualitative content review of literature where key patterns and gaps were identified. Global and regional trends were highlighted using the Visualisation of Similarities (VoS) viewer, while thematic coding and critical analysis provided insights into the Indian context. Five major themes were discussed: socio-cultural factors in child abuse, gender-specific victimisation, incidents happening within the thought safety of the child space, long-term post-traumatic effects, and escalation requirements that require integrated efforts. These findings highlight the complexities and weaknesses of the current system of the child abuse scenario in India; there is an urgent call for more inclusive research and policies. It is important that there be a coordinated effort from policymakers, healthcare professionals, educators, and the public to better address and mitigate this issue. Improved preventive measures, strong interventions, and an integrated strategy will help safeguard children and create a society that ensures their welfare and safety.