Abstract
BackgroundDespite the building evidence on violence against children globally, almost nothing is known about the violence children with disabilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience. The prevalence of violence against children with disabilities can be expected to be higher in LMICs where there are greater stigmas associated with having a child with a disability, less resources for families who have children with disabilities, and wider acceptance of the use of corporal punishment to discipline children. This study explores violence experienced by children with disabilities based on data collected from four countries in West Africa- Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Togo.MethodsA qualitative study design guided data generation with a total of 419 children, community members, and disability stakeholders. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Stakeholders shared their observations of or experiences of violence against children with disabilities in their community in interviews and focus groups. Thematic analysis guided data analysis and identified patterns of meaning among participants’ experiences.ResultsResults illuminate that children with disabilities experience violence more than non-disabled children, episodes of violence start at birth, and that how children with disabilities participate in their communities contributes to their different experiences of violence.ConclusionsThe study recommends policy-oriented actions and prevention programs that include children and their families in strategizing ways to address violence.
Highlights
Despite the building evidence on violence against children globally, almost nothing is known about the violence children with disabilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience
There is building evidence on violence against children globally, almost nothing is known about the violence children with disabilities in LMICs experience, even though there are approximately 93 million children living with disabilities in LMICs [7] and research into the prevention and treatment of violence against children has been outlined as a global priority [8, 9]
To address the dearth of information about violence that children with disabilities experience, this study explored violence against children with disabilities in the West African countries of Guinea, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Togo from the perspectives of children, community members, and disability stakeholders
Summary
Despite the building evidence on violence against children globally, almost nothing is known about the violence children with disabilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience. Violence exists in every country of the world, cutting across culture, class, education, ability, income and ethnic origin and can occur against any child, but children with disabilities are at a significantly greater risk than their non-disabled peers [1, 2]. Evidence from a systematic review found that children with disabilities experience violence four times more frequently than non-disabled children in high. In a case study of violence against children in Kenya, having mental health impairments or needing emotional or physical support were found to be risk factors for violence [10]
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