Child abuse in the West Bank of the occupied Palestinian territory (WB/oPt): social and political determinants

Nouh Harsha,Rita Giacaman,Margaret A Lynch

doi:10.1186/s12889-020-09251-x

Abstract

BackgroundChild maltreatment is a global epidemic. It affects morbidity, mortality, social behavior, wellbeing, and quality of life of children. This study aims to assess prevalence of child abuse in the West Bank (WB) of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and to determine some of its social and political associated factors.MethodsWe analyzed secondary data obtained from a cross sectional study conducted on a sample representing Palestinian children on the West Bank and using the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) tool. The ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool for parents (ICAST-P) questionnaire was completed by 1107 Palestinian mothers to estimate physical and emotional child abusive practices at home for children aged 0–12 years. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were performed using the SPSS® version 20 to assess prevalence and predictors of child abuse.ResultsOverall, around 34% of the West Bank-children were abused by their mothers. Results of the logistic regression analysis indicated that male children, children of younger mothers, children whose fathers were with low levels of education, children whose mothers reported low levels of parental warmth, and children whose parents were exposed to political violence were at greater risk of being abused.ConclusionsChild abuse is highly prevalent among children of the Palestinian society in the West Bank. Policy makers need to pay more attention to this epidemic. The association between child abuse and political violence found in this study makes a just solution for Palestinians essential for improving the welfare of children and families.

Highlights

Males were 1.4 times as likely to be abused compared to females [Odds ratios (OR) = 1.37, 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) (1.05–1.78)]
Children whose fathers were with low levels of education were 1.6 times as likely to be abused [OR = 1.55, 95%CI (1.01–2.38)]
Children with low levels of parental warmth were twice as likely to be abused [OR = 2.06, 95%CI (1.50–2.83)], and children whose parents were exposed to political violence were

Summary

Introduction

It affects morbidity, mortality, social behavior, wellbeing, and quality of life of children. Commissions refer to child abuse including physical, sexual, and psychological (emotional). Child abuse is a global health concern [3,4,5], occurring in both developing and developed nations [6, 7]. A systematic review on global prevalence of violence against children in 96 countries reported that over one billion of children had experienced physical, emotional or sexual violence during the year that preceded the survey [8]. A study conducted in 3 provinces in Turkey on 7540 children reported that 62.7%, and 46.0% of the children experienced psychological, and physical abuse, respectively [11]. A study on 154 children in Afghanistan concluded that 71% of the children reported exposure to physical violence [12]

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Conclusion