Child maltreatment as reported in a survey of the parents and teachers of primary school-aged children in Tonga

Abstract

Abstract Background Child maltreatment is an issue for which there are limited data from the Pacific region. Objective This study aimed to describe caregiver and teacher viewpoints regarding child maltreatment in Tonga. Participants and Setting A survey that investigated the health of primary school children in Tonga was developed. Items on child maltreatment and parenting in Tonga were answered by 143 caregivers of children attended three Tongan primary schools and 20 teachers at these three schools. Methods Within this survey, we investigated parenting, exposure of children to violence, and whether child neglect and abuse were considered a problem in Tonga using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Results Sixty-one percent of caregivers (35/57) and 65% of teachers (13/20) felt that children are exposed to violence in Tonga. Seventy-nine percent of caregivers (41/52) and 70% of teachers (14/20) felt that child neglect is a problem in Tonga. Ten percent (5/49) of parents said their child had been physically hurt by an adult in the last 12 months, and 77% (109/141) of caregivers said they had smacked their child at least once in the last four weeks. Five themes emerged from the caregiver and teacher responses: types of violence, parenting and discipline, causation and influences, effects and denial. Conclusion Child maltreatment is a prevalent issue in Tonga, a Pacific Island nation. Addressing the social, cultural, political and practical challenges identified by caregivers and teachers in this study may assist in preventing and intervening on behalf of children in Tonga.