Prevalence Of Emotional Abuse Research Articles

Prevalence of emotional abuse and subsequent feelings in adolescent and young semi-professional male football players

ABSTRACT Emotional abuse is the most common form of maltreatment in sports. However, due to the ignorance of the harmful effects and the hiding of this abuse in the shadow of success, less attention has been paid to it. In the present study, the researchers investigated the amount of emotional abuse and the subsequent feelings in young and adolescent athletes. The current research is cross-sectional with a mixed-methods approach, and 100 football players (adolescent = 59, young = 41) participated in the study. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data, which was analyzed and interpreted by grounded theory and SPSS software. Evidence demonstrated that 48% of all participants were emotionally abused by a coach during their sports career, such as humiliation and insults. While this maltreatment has been more common among young athletes, it has left far more short and long-term destructive effects, such as self-blame and loss of pride among adolescents. Based on the findings, we conclude that many athletes are exposed to emotional abuse, which has adverse consequences, especially in adolescence. Therefore, the awareness of athletes and coaches regarding maltreatment and its harmful effects can reduce the frequency of emotional abuse and maintain the psychological safety of athletes.

SOCIO-STRUCTURAL AND CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN IN FAMILIES IN RURAL AREAS

Emotional abuse against a child in the family can negatively affect his or her physical, mental, spiritual, moral, as well as social development. The purpose of this paper is to analyze socio-structural and cultural determinants of emotional abuse against children in rural areas, given that these groups of determinants differ in the conditions under which urban and rural abuse is more or less likely to occur. Different behaviors can be classified under emotional abuse – rejection, degradation, intimidation, different discriminatory practices, and certainly denial of emotional response. The methods of theoretical content analysis with basic methods of concretization and specialization, normative, comparative method, as well as basic quantitative analysis of tabulated data are applied in this paper. The expected results of the research should give a clearer picture of the differences in socio-structural and cultural treatment of activities that can be considered emotional abuse against children in rural areas, compared to urban areas. It is also interesting to analyze comparative data on the prevalence of emotional abuse against children in families in the Balkan region. Comparing the experiences of urban and rural areas, this paper contributes to a clearer picture of the conditionality of emotional abuse against children in rural areas and makes overarching recommendations to prevent the basic socio-structural and cultural determinants and factors in this domain.

Determining depression, abuse, and neglect in elderly individuals.

This study was conducted to investigate depression, abuse, and neglect in elderly individuals. The sample of the research consisted of 315 elderly individuals. Data were collected using a personal information form, an elder abuse assessment form, and the Geriatric Depression Scale. Emotional abuse, neglect, economic abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse were detected in 51.4%, 35.6%, 21.9%, 3.8%, and 0.03% of the elderly individuals, respectively. It was observed that elderly individuals in the advanced age group (75-95 years) experienced only emotional abuse, while women, single persons, those with low education levels, those without income of their own, and those who could not perform their self-care experienced both emotional abuse and neglect to a greater extent (P < 0.05). A total of 68.3% of the elderly individuals showed symptoms of depression at a significant level. The elderly individuals who were exposed to physical and emotional abuse and neglect had higher mean depression scores compared to those who were not (P < 0.05). The study showed that the severity of depression and prevalence of emotional abuse, neglect, financial abuse, and physical abuse were high among older adults. Mental health professionals have a very critical role in recognizing, detecting, and managing elder abuse and they should investigate elder abuse by integrating it into routine screening, especially in high-risk populations. It is recommended that guidelines for the detection and treatment of abuse and neglect be prepared and implemented.

The prevalence of emotional abuse in children living in Sub-Saharan Africa – A systematic review

ObjectivesThis study is meant to put a focus on the prevalence of emotional abuse in low-income states like the Sub-Saharan region. MethodologySearching PubMed, Google scholar, and web of science during February and April 2021 a total of 2264 articles were identified, 27 met the inclusion criteria.We added the results of 13 VAC (Violence Against Children and Youth) studies, conducted by UNICEF capturing information about experienced sexual, physical, or emotional violence in 13–24-year-olds, as well as 56 MIC (Multiple Indicator Cluster) studies, conducted by the CDC to research the disciplinary methods used with children aged 1–14 years in the past month by older household members.Finally, in a meta-analytic approach, we aimed to calculate a pooled estimate of the prevalence. ResultsThe included studies depicted a wide range in prevalence rates across countries. For example, while the VAC study in Lesotho in 2018 showed low incidence rates of emotional violence (6.9 % Females, 3.8 % Males), the average prevalence recorded by the MIC study was as high as 57.8 % for females and 59.2 % for males. On average, the MIC studies displayed a higher incidence and the discrepancy of prevalence of emotional abuse between females and males was small. Calculating a pooled estimate of the prevalence was not possible, due to the heterogeneity of the data. ConclusionsIn general countries displayed a high prevalence. A standardized use of a uniform definition of emotional abuse might help to display a more homogenous data set in the future, giving the opportunity for pooled estimates of prevalence.

The Prevalence of Emotional Abuse Among Adolescent Male Football Players

The Prevalence of Emotional Abuse Among Adolescent Male Football Players

Childhood trauma exposure and personality traits in schizophrenia patients

Childhood trauma in schizophrenia (SCZ) is associated with aberrant neurobiological downstream effects and cognitive deficits that markedly hinder patient outcome and functioning. However, the relationship between specific forms of childhood abuse and the tendency for certain personality traits in patients with SCZ has not been comprehensively studied yet. We recruited 374 SCZ patients and screened for history of physical abuse (PA), emotional abuse (EA), sexual abuse (SA), physical neglect (PN) and emotional neglect (EN) using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and measured personality traits using the NEO Five-Factor inventory. Using CTQ cut-off scores, the prevalence of EA, PA, SA, EN and PN was 60.7%, 42.0%, 37.7%, 64.2% and 54.3% respectively. Exposure to any form of childhood abuse was associated with increased neuroticism. Exposure to EA, SA, PN and EN was correlated with decreased agreeableness and conscientiousness scores. PN, EN and PA exposure was associated with decreased openness while EA, PN and EN exposure was associated with decreased extraversion. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between all forms of childhood abuse and trait neuroticism whereas negative correlations were found between certain forms of childhood abuse and all other personality traits. Exposure to specific forms of childhood abuse was associated with specific personality traits in patients with SCZ.

‘He never hit me #WhyIStayed’: countering the U.S. domestic violence master narrative

ABSTRACT In September 2014, TMZ leaked a video of NFL Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice, assaulting his fiancé, Janay Palmer. By the time the video was released, Janay had married Rice, drawing heavy criticism from the media. To combat the victim-blaming discourse aimed at Janay, Bev Gooden, a domestic violence survivor, created the viral #WhyIStayed. Thousands of users tweeted their experiences of domestic violence, discussing reasons for both staying in and leaving abusive relationships. This study examines the complexities of domestic violence in #WhyIStayed/#WhyILeft victim/survivor narratives. By combining narrative theory with a semantic network analysis of 19,345 #WhyIStayed/#WhyILeft tweets, we argue that these posts operate as counter-narratives to the U.S. domestic violence master narrative. Three themes emerged from the semantic network analysis: lack of awareness of abuse, the prevalence of emotional abuse, and double-binds that constrain choices. We discuss their implications for domestic violence activism and online activism generally.

Prevalence and pattern of emotional abuse of children in their homes; self reported experience of children in Ilorin Nigeria

IntroductionThe prevalence and pattern of emotional abuse of children in Nigeria is poorly understood. Data from other parts of the world indicate it is commoplace and has enduring negative mental health impact. The current study aims to understand the phenomenon the more.ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence and pattern of emotional abuse of children in their homes in NigeriaMethodsCross sectional survey of 1, 5444 secondary school students aged 11-18 years in Ilorin Nigeria using multistage random sampling technique with proportional allocation was done. Respondents completed the ICAST-CH questionnaire which covers child abuse in its several forms including emotional abuse. Prevalence of emotional abuse was computed.ResultsAll respondents (100%) had experienced emotional abuse at home in the last one year Table 1: Prevalnce annd pattern of emotional abuse at home among children in Ilorin NigeriaEmotional Abuse* (n=1554)FrequencyPercentageThreatened to hurt or kill you or threatened with evil spirits1554100Screamed at152898.3Bullied by another child at home121878.4Insulted112272.2Made you feel embarrassed57436.9Wished you were dead22414.4Locked out of home19612.6Threatened to abandon you956.1ConclusionsEmotional abuse of children at home is common place in Ilorin Nigeria. It would seem important to educate parents on what emotional abuse is and its potential impact in children.DisclosureNo significant relationships.

Gender-Based Violence and Factors Associated with Victimization among Female Entertainment Workers in Cambodia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Women working in the entertainment industry are confronted with various forms of gender-based violence (GBV). However, their vulnerability remains understudied, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aims to examine the prevalence of GBV among female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia and identify factors associated with victimization. We conducted a cross-sectional study in November 2018 for the impact evaluation of a randomized controlled trial. We used a stratified random sampling method to recruit 600 FEWs from different entertainment venues in the capital city and three other provinces. Female data collectors administered a structured questionnaire, and we performed multiple logistic regression analyses. Of the total, 60.5% had experienced a form of GBV during their lifetime; of whom, 37.5% experienced the GBV in the past 6 months. The prevalence of emotional abuse, forced substance use, physical abuse, and forced sex was 51.5%, 25.0%, 20.6%, and 2.9%, respectively. Forced substance use and forced sex were mainly perpetrated by clients, physical abuse by intimate partners, and emotional abuse by others such as entertainment establishment owners or managers. FEWs victimized by clients (relative risk ratio [RRR] = 0.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.07, 0.53]) and others (RRR = 0.11, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.44]) were less likely to be married compared with victims of intimate partner violence. Factors associated with sexual harassment were working in beer gardens (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.39, 95% CI = [1.20, 4.73]) and restaurants/cafés (aOR = 1.65, 95% CI = [1.01, 2.69]), and having higher acceptance of violence against women (aOR = 1.12, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.24]). FEWs in Cambodia experience high levels and unique forms of GBV as they are confronted with different types of perpetrators. Interventions need to be tailored to fit the specific needs of FEWs. Interventions aimed at reducing client-perpetrated violence should specifically focus on forced substance use and forced sex, while physical abuse by intimate partners should also be addressed.

Gender-Based Violence Perpetration by Male High School Students in Eastern Ethiopia.

Gender-based violence (GBV) perpetration is a global public health problem due to its detrimental effect on health and education. This study aims to determine the prevalence of gender-based violence perpetration by male students in eastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in eastern Ethiopia in December 2018. A total of 1064 male students were involved in the study. Data were collected using an adaptation of the WHO Multi-Country Study self-administered questionnaire on the Women Health and Life Event. Descriptive statistics were calculated using STATA version 14. The prevalence of gender-based violence committed by a male in the last 12 months was 55.83% (95% CI: 52.84–58.82%). The prevalence of emotional abuse against an intimate or non-partner was 45.86% (95% CI: 42.87–48.86%), physical abuse was 45.77% (95% CI: 42.77–48.77%), and sexual abuse was 31.11% (95% CI: 28.32–33.90%). The perpetration of multiple types of gender-based violence (emotional, physical, and sexual) was 47.15% (95% CI: 43.15–51.25%), with 17.72% (95% CI: 14.75–21.03%) reporting emotionally and physically violent acts, 14.21% (95% CI: 11.51–17.27%) reporting emotionally violent acts only, and 12.88% (95% CI: 10.29–15.82%) reporting physically violent acts only. There were statistically significant differences between the age of participants who committed acts of all forms of GBV in the “ever” timeframe and the past 12 months (p < 0.001). Effective prevention and intervention strategies should be developed at the school level to reduce gender-based violence perpetration.

Child maltreatment in Bangladesh: Poverty, social class, and the emotional abuse of elementary school children by teachers

Child maltreatment is a global problem, and child punishment, both physical and emotional, is a persistent phenomenon and major child rights issue in the global south, particularly in Bangladesh. Child abuse is any emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment of a child that is perpetrated by an adult in a role of responsibility. Emotional abuse refers to a relationship between a child and a caregiver, which is a consistent pattern of harmful interactions with a child, other than physical or sexual abuse. In Bangladesh, the prevalence of emotional abuse within school settings is ostensibly widespread. However, there is little systematic research on the occurrence of emotional abuse within elementary schools in the nation. This article focuses on the incidence and predictors of emotional punishment, as well as students’ reactions to discipline among elementary school-going students in Bangladesh. A survey data set was used to explore 450 primary school children’s experiences of emotional abuse and responses to abuse within the school system in Bangladesh. Findings indicate that 88% of child participants were scolded during their current school year, and 82.7% were scolded during the previous school year. Teachers threatened about a quarter (24.9%) of the participants in their current school year. We found that poverty was a consistent factor for children receiving emotional punishment in schools. Ninety-two percent of poor children were subjected to emotional abuse in schools, and poor children were significantly more likely to suffer emotional abuse by teachers than non-poor children. The findings of this study highlight the need to conduct further studies of child maltreatment within schools in Bangladesh. In particular, a better understanding of the frequency and impact of emotional abuse within schools in Bangladesh will help to inform interventions at all levels of practice including, individual, family, group, community, and policy levels, as well inform teacher training and teacher education curricula in the country.

Trends in child maltreatment in Germany: comparison of two representative population-based studies

BackgroundChild maltreatment of all types is a serious concern for society, and it is important to monitor trends in incidence in order to inform child welfare agencies and policy-makers about emerging issues. In Germany, however, information on such trends is limited: apart from official sources, the only published study is a comparison of surveys conducted in 1992 and 2011 that had focused primarily on sexual abuse. The present study is the first to look at more recent trends and to examine other types of maltreatment as well.MethodsWe compared the datasets of two population-based nationwide surveys, one conducted in 2010 (N = 2504) and the other in 2016 (N = 2510). Both had used identical methodology. Participants aged 14 years and older had been selected randomly using the Kish selection grid method, and information about childhood experiences of abuse had been solicited using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.ResultsThe overall percentage of respondents who reported having experienced at least one type of child maltreatment decreased over the 6 years, from 35.3% in 2010 to 31.0% in 2016; however, the percentages who reported multiple types of maltreatment remained stable. The decrease in any type of maltreatment was mainly driven by fewer reports of physical neglect, which was likelier to be reported by older respondents who had experienced privation during the (post-) war years and whose representation was lower in the later survey. There was a significant increase over time in the prevalence of emotional abuse, with respondents aged 26–45 years reporting higher rates of this type of maltreatment. The prevalence rates of other types of maltreatment remained unchanged. All effect sizes were very small.ConclusionsAt present, the systems in place in Germany for monitoring the occurrence of child maltreatment are insufficient. While this study contributes to a better understanding, more information is needed, particularly on populations that have been excluded or underrepresented in previous research efforts. As has been done elsewhere, large databases should be set up, using identical methodologies and definitions, in order to accurately assess trends over time in different types of abuse and neglect.

Consequences of child emotional abuse, emotional neglect and exposure to intimate partner violence for eating disorders: a systematic critical review

BackgroundChild maltreatment and eating disorders are significant public health problems. Yet, to date, research has focused on the role of child physical and sexual abuse in eating-related pathology. This is despite the fact that globally, exposure to emotional abuse, emotional neglect and intimate partner violence are the three of the most common forms of child maltreatment. The objective of the present study is to systematically identify and critically review the literature examining the association between child emotional abuse (EA), emotional neglect (EN), and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and adult eating-disordered behavior and eating disorders.MethodsA systematic search was conducted of five electronic databases: Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and ERIC up to October 2015 to identify original research studies that investigated the association between EA, EN and children’s exposure to IPV, with adult eating disorders or eating-disordered behavior using a quantitative research design. Database searches were complemented with forward and backward citation chaining. Studies were critically appraised using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool.ResultsA total of 5556 publications were screened for this review resulting in twenty-three articles included in the present synthesis. These studies focused predominantly on EA and EN, with a minority examining the role of child exposure to IPV in adult eating-related pathology. Prevalence of EA and EN ranged from 21.0% to 66.0%, respectively. No prevalence information was provided in relation to child exposure to IPV. Samples included predominantly White women. The methodological quality of the available literature is generally low. Currently, the available literature precludes the possibility of determining the extent to which EA, EN or child exposure to IPV have independent explanatory influence in adult eating-related pathology above what has been identified for physical and sexual abuse.ConclusionsWhile a large proportion of adults with eating disorders or eating-disordered behavior report EA, EN, or child exposure to IPV , there is a paucity of high-quality evidence about these relationships.

Emotional abuse of girls in Swaziland: prevalence, perpetrators, risk and protective factors and health outcomes.

BackgroundResearch on emotional child abuse in sub–Saharan Africa is scarce. Few studies thus far have examined prevalence, risk and protective factors for emotional child abuse or the associations between emotional abuse and girls’ health.MethodsA nationally representative two–stage, cluster–sampled, household survey of females aged 13–24 years (n = 1244) on childhood abuse victimisation was conducted. Participants completed interviewer–assisted questionnaires. Associations between emotional abuse and putative risk, and protective factors and health outcomes were analyzed using separate logistic regression models accounting for sampling design. Marginal effects of cumulative risk factors for emotional abuse victimisation were examined.ResultsLifetime prevalence of emotional abuse was 28.5% with 58.3% of these girls reporting many abusive incidents. The most common perpetrators were female (27.8%) and male (16.7%) relatives and, more rarely, biological parents. Risk factors associated with emotional abuse were frequent caregiver changes (odds ratio (OR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.970, poverty (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.12–2.03), and physical abuse (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.45–2.71) and sexual abuse (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.57–3.10) victimisation. Being close to one’s mother was a protective factor (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80–0.97). Risk for emotional abuse increased from 13% with no risk factors present to 58.4% –with all four risk factors present. Health outcomes associated with emotional child abuse were suicidal ideation (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.30–2.63) and feeling depressed (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.31–2.71).ConclusionsGirls in Swaziland experience high levels of emotional abuse victimisation. Emotional abuse is associated with economic disadvantage, family factors, other types of abuse victimisation and poor mental health. Therefore, a holistic approach to prevention is needed, incorporating poverty reduction and programmes to improve parent–child relationships, reduce the use of harsh criticism, and change parenting social norms.

Violence Against Women in Selected Areas of the United States.

We determined the prevalence of recent emotional, physical, and sexual violence against women and their associations with HIV-related risk factors in women living in the United States. We performed an assessment of women ages 18 to 44 years with a history of unprotected sex and 1 or more personal or partner HIV risk factors in the past 6 months from 2009 to 2010. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association of experiencing violence. Among 2099 women, the prevalence of emotional abuse, physical violence, and sexual violence in the previous 6 months was 31%, 19%, and 7%, respectively. Nonmarried status, food insecurity, childhood abuse, depression symptomology, and posttraumatic stress disorder were significantly associated with multiple types of violence. All types of violence were associated with at least 3 different partner or personal HIV risk behaviors, including unprotected anal sex, previous sexually transmitted infection diagnosis, sex work, or partner substance abuse. Our data suggested that personal and partner HIV risk behaviors, mental illness, and specific forms of violence frequently co-occurred in the lives of impoverished women. We shed light on factors purported to contribute to a syndemic in this population. HIV prevention programs in similar populations should address these co-occurring issues in a comprehensive manner.

Prevalence of experiences of domestic violence among psychiatric patients: systematic review

Domestic violence has been linked with many mental disorders, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders and psychosis. To estimate the prevalence (adult lifetime and past year) of different types of domestic violence experienced by men and women receiving psychiatric treatment. In a systematic review, a search of 18 electronic databases was supplemented by hand searching, citation tracking and updating a recent systematic review of criminal victimisation in psychiatric populations. Two reviewers independently extracted data and appraised study quality. Forty-two studies were included. The median prevalence of lifetime partner violence reported in high-quality papers was 30% (interquartile range (IQR) 26-39) among female in-patients and 33% (IQR 21-53) among female out-patients. Among male patients, one high-quality study reported a lifetime prevalence of 32% across mixed psychiatric settings. No study included a control group. Psychiatric patients experience a high prevalence of domestic violence but there is limited information on family (non-partner) domestic violence, the prevalence of emotional abuse and the extent of risk compared with non-psychiatric controls.

Impact of Multiple Types of Childhood Trauma Exposure on Risk of Psychiatric Comorbidity Among Alcoholic Inpatients

This study examined the prevalence of single- and multiple-type childhood trauma exposure (CTE) among alcoholic patients undergoing inpatient detoxification and treatment. The relationships between various types of CTE and lifetime psychiatric comorbidities and suicide attempts were also explored. A total of 196 alcoholic inpatients were assessed by Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) for CTE history. The overall prevalence of CTE in the entire sample was high (55.1%). Specifically, the prevalence of emotional abuse was 21.4%, physical abuse 31.1%, sexual abuse 24.0%, emotional neglect 20.4%, and physical neglect 19.9%. Regarding multiple types of CTE, 31.7 and 18.9% reported at least 2 and at least 3 CTE types, respectively. Strikingly, among those with at least 1 positive CTQ category, more than half reported 2 or more CTE types. A history of emotional abuse increased the risk of mood disorder, in particular major depressive disorder, as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Physical abuse contributed to the prediction of suicide attempts, while sexual abuse was associated with a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, PTSD, and multiple comobidities (e.g., anxiety and mood disorder). The number of reported CTE types or the total score of the CTQ predicted an increased risk of having single or multiple psychiatric comorbidities as well as suicide attempts. We observed high rates of a broad range of CTE types and a trend for CTE-specific enhancement of risk for various psychiatric outcomes among alcoholic inpatients. Of note, a dose-response relationship between number of CTE types and risk of psychiatric comorbidities as well as suicide attempts was found. We suggest a wide range of CTE should be included when exploring the effects of CTE or developing prevention and treatment strategies among alcoholic subjects.

Child emotional aggression and abuse: Definitions and prevalence

Objective Research on and intervention for child emotional abuse and emotional aggression toward children have been severely hampered because there have been no agreed-upon, clinically usable definitions. Methods We have (a) proposed and field-tested a set of criteria to operationally define child emotional abuse for clinical settings and (b) used these criteria to design a parent-report measure of parental emotional aggression and child emotional abuse that could be used in research. In this paper, we review the development and field trials of these criteria for making substantiation decisions. Results Agreement between master reviewers and field decisions was extremely high in a 5-site development trial (96% agreement, κ = .89) and a 41-site dissemination trial (90% agreement, κ = .73). We compare these criteria to other research criteria in the literature. We then present data collected using a self-report measure designed to parallel these criteria from an anonymous online survey of US Air Force personnel and their spouses. The final sample ( N = 52,780) was weighted to be representative of the United States civilian population. The prevalence of parents’ emotionally aggressive acts was much higher than the prevalence of emotional abuse (acts plus impact), but rates of parents’ acts of emotional aggression were lower than those typically reported in the literature. Additional analyses tested for differential effects due to gender of perpetrator (i.e., mothers or fathers), age of victim, and clustering within families. These factors did not drive rates of aggression or abuse. Conclusions In sum, the criteria developed and proposed appear to support reliable clinical decision making regarding child emotional abuse and can be translated to research survey tools that better capture the continuum of parents’ emotional aggression and child emotional abuse than the measures that are currently available, advancing the state of the science with respect to child emotional abuse.

Domestic abuse before, during and after pregnancy in Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 300 women with a child aged 6 to 18 months, to determine the prevalence and determinants of domestic abuse against women in Jahrom; before, during and after pregnancy. The prevalence of abuse during pregnancy (42%) was lower than during the 1 year before pregnancy (51.7%) and after delivery (53.5%). The overall prevalence of emotional abuse, sexual abuse and physical abuse was 53.5%, 34.7% and 26.7% respectively. Abuse during any previous period was a strong risk factor for subsequent abuse. Other risk factors associated with abuse were: woman previously witnessing domestic violence, opium use by husband, woman's education < or = 12 years, age at marriage of woman < 18 years, husband's education < or = 12 years, woman's economic dependency and living in an extended family. Routine screening of abuse in maternity clinics should be considered.

Violence in adolescents: social and behavioural factors

Objective To estimate the prevalence of young people's involvement in violence measured as participation in physical fights or being physically, sexually or emotionally abused. We also aimed to understand the role of social, demographic and other behavioural characteristics in violence. Methods We evaluated 7511 adolescents (4243 girls and 3268 boys) aged 15 to 19 years old, enrolled in public schools. Information was obtained using an anonymous, self-administrated questionnaire. Results The most frequently reported type of violence was emotional abuse (15.6%). Boys reported greater involvement in fights (3.6 vs. 13.6%, p<0.001) and physical abuse (7.5 vs. 19.5%, p<0.001). The prevalence of emotional abuse (16.2 vs. 14.8%, p=0.082) and sexual abuse (2.0 vs. 1.8%, p=0.435) was similar in girls and boys. After adjustment, increasing age decreased the odds of being involved in fights in both genders but increased the odds of emotional abuse. Living in a rented home was associated with physical abuse in girls (odds ratio [OR]: 1.4; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.0–1.9) and boys (OR: 1.6; 95%CI: 1.2–2.0). In girls the odds of being emotionally abused increased with greater parental education. Smoking and cannabis use were associated with all types of violence in both genders. Conclusions The most frequently reported form of violence was emotional abuse. We found differences by gender, with boys reporting more physical abuse and involvement in fights. Adolescents whose parents had a higher educational level reported more physical and emotional abuse, which may be related to differences in the perception of abuse.