Child battering in Nairobi, Kenya

A survey of battered children was carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi between 1st May 1989 and 30th April 1990. Twenty eight cases were identified and compared with twenty six controls, matched for age and sex. The battered children were likely to be aged between three and four years, with slight male predominance. The abusing parents tended to live in crowded environments, were younger in age, less educated and were less likely to be practising contraception. They were relatively new migrants to Nairobi and were socially isolated. The socio-economic and cultural issues are discussed.