CHILD MALTREATMENT AMONG ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN IN JIMMA TOWN

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Child abuse and maltreatment is one of the major offences on children. It can have various forms including physical, psychological and sexual abuse. The Objectives of this study was to assess the magnitude of various forms of child maltreatment among elementary school children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in two elementary schools in Jimma town in June 2000. A total of 227 children selected by simple random sampling were interviewed using a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS: Majority (80.0%) of the studied children encountered some form of physical punishment of which 21.0% had abusive punishment as evidenced by bruises, lacerations or swelling reported as a result of the punishment. Teachers were responsible for the majority (40.7%) of punishment followed by parents (31.0%) and others. In addition, 77.5% of the studied children had some form of verbal maltreatment including insult, curse, harassment or threat to harm. No child reported sexual abuse in this study but 25 (11.0%) encountered bad secret (sexually seductive word, picture or written message) mainly from a neighboring child (44.0%) followed by classmate (28.0%) and others. Statistically significant association was found between child’s age and the risk of having physical punishment (p<0.05) but not between child’s sex, with whom the child currently lives and physical punishment (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION: the consequences of child maltreatment are detrimental to the physical, psychological and mental development of children. Teachers, parents and other members of the community should be educated on the various forms and consequences of child maltreatment.