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Prevalence of physical abuse of children in their homes in Ilorin Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 August 2021

A. Oladosu ,
O. Abiodun  and
M. Tunde-Ayinmode
A. Oladosu*
Affiliation:
Johnson Community Hospital, Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust, Lincolnshire, United Kingdom
O. Abiodun
Affiliation:
Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
M. Tunde-Ayinmode
Affiliation:
Behavioural Sciences, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Child abuse has deleterious consequences on its victims. Its occurrence is poorly documented in Nigeria.

Objectives

To determine prevalence and pattern of physical abuse at home among children in Ilorin Nigeria.

Methods

Cross sectional survey of 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. Prevalence of child abuse was computed.

Results

Table1: Pattern of physical abuse at home in the last 12 months

Form of abuseFrequencyPercentage
Physical Abuse* (n=1554) Hold heavy load as punishment/positional fixity)149296.0
Hit with object147394.8
Hit, beat, spanked with hand120377.4
Pushed, grabbed, kicked85054.7
Pulled hair, pinched, twisted ear63140.6
Locked in small place18211.7
Burned or scalded855.5
Tried to choke, smother, or drown815.2
Threatened with knife or gun301.9

Conclusions

Conclusion Physical abuse of children is extremely common in Ilorin Nigeria. There are no specific demographic determinants of occurrence; hence every growing child is at risk. The prevailing cultural norms and state laws appear to be chief drivers of this phenomenon. The current findings expand the available pool of knowledge about CPA in Nigeria and calls for more research. It also supports existing calls for the abolition of corporal punishment of children.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

childphysical abusehome
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 64 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 29th European Congress of Psychiatry , April 2021 , pp. S712
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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