[Child abuse: socioeconomic factors and health status]

The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between characteristics of the family's ecological environment and child abuse.

Forty-five cases of child abuse and 90 matched controls (1 case per every 2 controls by age, sex and neighborhood were compared. Data collection was carried out by personal interview at the home of the child care-giver.

There were statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in the age and cultural level of the women interviewed, number of children and one-parent families, self-perceived health, depressive symptomatology and anxiety, economic strain and perceived social support. In multivariant analysis, single-headed households, education, number of children, economic strain and social support remained independent predictors of child abuse. Among single-headed households, social support had a strong protective effect. Among households headed by both parents, economic strain was positively associated with abuse.

Child abuse has deep sociocultural and economic roots. Intervention strategies should be directed to the social integration of the families at risk.