Child maltreatment behaviors among parents in the light of socioeconomic background in Assiut university

ABSTRACT

The aim of the present work was to study child maltreatment behaviors among parents in the light of socioeconomic background in Assiut. It was conducted in several faculties at Assiut university and Assiut university hospital. Males and females who are working in the previous settings, having at least one child at the age of 1-18 years constituting the target population, their number was 322 participants [163males and 159 females]. Data was collected through interviewing each participant individually using the developed questionnaire sheet included participants perceptions concerning definition and factors of child maltreatment, as well as their behaviors concerning child maltreatment. A family socioeconomic scale by Abdel Twab [2000] was used to assess socioeconomic conditions of participants. Results of the present study revealed that children were subjected to one or more forms of maltreatment in 91.6% of families. The most frequently behaviors constituted all forms of child maltreatment were reported by participants with the low followed by those in the middle and the high socioeconomic conditions [100%, 93.9% and 87.5%] respectively. The most frequently reported maltreatment behavior was that constituted emotional abuse 87.3%, followed by physical abuse 80.8%, neglect of safety 37.2%, neglect of medical care 36.5% of participants. A significant high frequently maltreatment behaviors were reported by female participants than male [96.2% and 87.7%] and participants who exposed to maltreatment during their childhood than those who didn't [93.4% and 83.5%] respectively. The present study recommended public education about child rearing and improve parents relationship through mass media including discourage corporal punishment and other forms of violence and suggests ways of treating children