Physical and Psychological Child Abuse in Ethiopia: Implications for Intervention

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate on prevalence of physical and psychological forms of child abuse in some selected elementary schools (Meskele-Kiristos Elementary School, Ediget-Felg Elementary School, Gimbrit Elementary School and Kilili Rufael Elementary School) in North Gondar. Three hundred twenty one children whose age ranges from seven to seventeen years were randomly drawn from these schools through simple random sampling technique using lottery method. Data were gathered by questionnaire. Most children faced physical abuse in the form kicked with an object (73.8%), Pinching (78.5%) and slapping on head (70.73%). There was statistically significant difference between male and female children being victim of form kicked with an object (χ 2 =72.9, df=1, p<0.05), Pinching (χ 2 =28.1, df=1, p<0.05) and slapping on head (χ 2 =55.1, df=1, p<0.05). Male children were more victims of these types of physical abuse as compared to female children. Moreover, substantial proportions of children were suffering from psychological abuse through terrorising in the form of threatening with severe punishment (64.8%) and threatening to leave home (57%). Furthermore, sizeable proportion of children faced psychological abuse in the form of being seen as worthless/ useless/ by parent/caregiver (53.9%) and negative comments by comparing with others (62.1%). There was statistically significant difference between male and female children in psychological abuse in the form of being threatened with severe punishment (χ 2 =28.15, df=1, p<0.05) and in name calling (χ 2 =7.48, df=1, p<0.05). More proportion of boys experienced threatening with severe punishment and name calling as compared girls. Therefore, prevention efforts and policies should address physical and psychological abuse.