Parents’ self-reporting of Child Physical Maltreatment (CPM) in a low-middle-income country

Abstract

Background Because of COVID-19 pandemic, families across the world are experiencing new stressors that threaten their health, and economic well-being. Such a stress may jeopardize parents-children relationship. We aim to investigate the magnitude of child physical maltreatment (CPM) by parents in Egypt during the COVID-19 pandemic, to relate it to parents’ stress, and to identify other potential risk factors. Methods This cross-sectional study assessed parent-reported CPM and their personal experience of stress, depression, and anxiety among a sample of Egyptian parents using an electronic survey. It included sociodemographic data, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), and the Child physical maltreatment scale (CPMS). We also briefly assessed COVID-19 -related data. Results Out of 404 respondents, (62.9%) and (32.9%) reported performing minor and severe CPM toward their children during the past 3 months, respectively. The age of youngest child, and anxiety score were significantly correlated with both minor and severe forms of CPM. While number of children, and online education system ratings were only significantly correlated with severe CPM. Parental definition of CPM was significantly correlated to minor CPM, but not to severe CPM. Conclusions CPM by parents is not uncommon in Egypt, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of regular support and intervention that help parents learn parenting skills and the use of non-violent child disciplining methods.

Evaluation of Psychological and Physical Violence towards Children and Adolescents before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Lodz Voivodship

“…Only a few studies show a decrease in the incidence of physical or psychological violence during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. It is important to emphasize, however, that most of the research conducted to assess the scale of the problem of violence in this period was conducted on a population of children hospitalized or seeking support on helplines, which might contribute to higher prevalence rates [3][4][5]. This does not provide a cross-sectional study group.…”

“…Analyzing the problem in a cultural context seems appropriate [4]. Violence is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as "the intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or against a group or community, that either results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury, death, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation" [5]. The definition according to the WHO distinguishes an additional subgroup of children in adolescence [6].…”