Bangladeshi school-age children's experiences and perceptions on child maltreatment: A qualitative interview study

Impact of child's cognitive and social-emotional difficulties on child abuse: Does mother's justification of intimate partner violence also play a role?

BACKGROUND

Violence against children has been a persistent problem in developing nations. The adverse effects of physical violence bear a considerable impact on children's physical and psychological development resulting in both short and long-term issues.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore whether children with cognitive and social-emotional difficulties (CSEDs) were at a higher risk of experiencing physical abuse and whether mothers' views on intimate partner violence (IPV) were also related to physical abuse against children.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey-2019 was used with a sample of 27,086 children aged 5-14.

METHODS

Generalized linear modelling along with a machine learning method of classification trees was employed to investigate the important sociodemographic characteristics and identify the most vulnerable groups of children based on their likelihood of exposure to household-violence.

RESULTS

Nearly 62.5 % of the children were physically abused by their mothers. Children with CSEDs were 53 % (OR 1.53; 95 % CI: 1.41, 1.67) more likely to experience physical abuse and mothers' justification of IPV was associated with a 16 % higher risk (OR 1.16; 95 % CI: 1.08, 1.26). Moreover, younger children aged 11 or below belonged to the high-risk groups of experiencing abuse.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that violence against children is widespread in Bangladesh, especially in children having CSEDs. Mothers' acceptance of IPV was also associated with increased abusive practice against children. Sincere focus on these issues is imperative if Bangladesh intends to achieve the sustainable development goal 16.2 of eradicating all forms of violence against children and ensure their safe development.

Children's exposure to psychological abuse and neglect: A population-based study in rural Bangladesh

AIM

We aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of child psychological abuse and neglect in a rural area of Bangladesh.

METHODS

Data were obtained from interviewing 1416 children aged 11-17 years administering the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse Screening Tool for Children between March and April 2017. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate the risks of child psychological abuse and neglect.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of at least one form of psychological abuse both in the past year and lifetime were more than 97 per cent. Moreover, the rates of at least one form of neglect were about 58 per cent during the past year and 78 per cent over lifetime. Living separately from parents posed children to significant risks of neglect and psychological abuse. Working children and greater number of siblings in a family were risk factors for neglect, whereas witnessing family violence and being bullied were risk factors for psychological abuse. Children with more years of schooling experienced less neglect and psychological abuse.

CONCLUSION

The high prevalence of child psychological abuse and neglect in this study shows child maltreatment as an ignored issue in Bangladesh.

Children's exposure to physical abuse from a child perspective: A population-based study in rural Bangladesh

Background

Although child physical abuse (CPA) is considered as a major global public health problem, it has not yet been recognized as such in Bangladesh. Very few studies have assessed the prevalence and victims’ characteristics of multiple forms of CPA.

Objective

This population-based study assessed the prevalence of CPA committed by adults in a rural area of Bangladesh and examined its association with demographic and socio-contextual factors.

Methods

Data were obtained using ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool for Children (ICAST-C) in a random sample of 1416 children (49% girls, 51% boys) aged 11 to 17 years by face-to-face interviews during March-April 2017. The response rate was 91.5%. To estimate predictors of CPA, physical abuse was categorized into frequent and less frequent groups.

Results

The prevalence of at least one form (≥ 1), two forms (≥2) and three or more forms (≥ 3) of CPA were estimated approximately to 99%, 95% and 83% in their lifetime and 93%, 79%, and 57% in the past year respectively. Hitting (except on buttocks), standing/kneeling and slapping were the most common physical abuse whereas given drugs or alcohol, pinched, burned or scalded, beaten-up and locked up were less reported. Female children were faced severe forms of CPA more than that of males. Male children, younger age groups, witnessing adults using weapons at home, bullied by siblings and low level of maternal education were found to be significant risk factors for both ≥ 1 form and ≥ 2 forms of frequent CPA whereas adding also adult shouting in a frightening way was found as a significant risk factor for ≥ 2 forms of frequent CPA.

Conclusion

Self-reported prevalence of CPA is extremely common in the Bangladeshi rural society. The prevalence was associated with demographic and socio-contextual characteristics of the children such as being younger, witnessing domestic violence and maternal low education. The findings provide evidence to support parents and policy-makers to take effective measures to implement policy and programme on alternative up-bringing methods and creating awareness of negative effects of CM which in turn help Bangladesh to line up with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the country signed in 1990.