Child Maltreatment and associated Sociodemographic factors among Children affected by HIV/AIDS in Ghana: A Multi-Informant Perspective

Abstract

Background: Child maltreatment and its consequences are considered a major public health concern among children because they can cause significant physical and psychological problems. Child maltreatment is widespread but often underestimated. Surprisingly, there is hardly any data on the frequency of child maltreatment in general and particularly on orphans and vulnerable children in low-income countries. Method: This study employed cross-sectional, quantitative survey that involved 291 children aged 10–17 years in Lower Manya Krobo District, Ghana and examined their exposure to and experience of child maltreatment. The survey also examined parents/caregivers’ exposure and perpetuation of child maltreatment. Results: Some form of maltreatment within the household was reported by approximately 90% of children, and it was significantly higher among orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as compared with comparison children. Children living with HIV/AIDS-infected parents and orphans of any type reported higher exposure to domestic violence and experienced significantly more neglect, psychological and physical abuse than the comparison children. Conclusion: The results of this survey demonstrate that maltreatment among children affected by HIV/AIDS are not rare, and that the dysfunction family conditions that they find themselves bear systemic risks for maltreatment. It is important that culturally appropriate and evidence-based interventions are implemented to address the maltreatment.

The effects of HIV/AIDS family dysfunction trajectories and psychosocial wellbeing among adolescents in Ghana: the mediating role of child maltreatment

“…Recent research has shown that in Ghana, households affected by HIV/AIDS frequently exhibit child abuse [21]. The substantial association between child abuse and psychological distress has also been demonstrated by other studies [20,22,23].…”

“…The HIV/AIDS Impacted Families -Ghana Project, a wider research endeavour, provided the study's data [21]. In a communitybased cross-sectional study carried out in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in the Eastern Region of Ghana, information was collected from 291 youth between the ages of 10 and 17 years.…”