The risks and alternatives to physical punishment use with children

Abstract

Despite strong evidence of negative developmental outcomes resulting from the use of physical (or corporal) punishment with children, its use by parents and other caregivers is common. Such negative outcomes include child aggression, mental health issues, and physical abuse. Health care providers have a responsibility to promote disciplinary strategies that facilitate positive parent-children relationships and keep children's self-esteem and bodies healthy and intact. The incidence, factors, and outcomes associated with parental use of physical punishment are reviewed and useful advice for parents and age-appropriate disciplinary strategies and resources are outlined for the various stages of child development from infancy to school age.

Observations of teachers in llorin, Nigeria on their practices of corporal punishment that are potentially injurious to their pupils′ eyes

“…[18] The effectiveness of CP as a disciplinary measure is not assured. [17][18][19][20] Although controversies still rage on, on whether CP has any effect on the cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes in children subjected to it, [3,21] no such controversies surround the definite occurrence of eye injuries that result from such practices. [12][13][14][15] However, we wish to point out that majority of these same ESTs had adequate knowledge of, the correct attitude to, and correct practices of, the factors that have positive bearings on their pupils' eye health.…”

“…Instead, ESTs need to undergo training programs on alternative nonabusive methods of disciplining erring pupils. [1,3,19,20,25] There is also a need to toughen the existing legislation in northern Nigeria (article 55 of the penal code) with a view to abolishing CP and also to severely penalize any such act that results in grievous body harm such as eye injury and blindness. [16] The current legislation which reads that "Nothing is an offence which does not amount to the infliction of grievous hurt upon any person and which is done by a schoolmaster for the purpose of correcting a child under eighteen years of age entrusted to his charge; or by a master for the purpose of correcting his servant or apprentice such servant or apprentice being under eighteen years of age" almost confers immunity on ESTs to practice CP, including those that are potentially injurious to pupils' eyes.…”

“…[2] Its use by parents and other care givers is common, [3,4] as children with difficult and coercive behavior often provokes such harsh discipline from adults. [4,5] In many developing countries of Africa, cultural attitudes [2] and noncriminalization of such acts [6,7] have often blurred the distinction between discipline and abuse, and thereby make CP practice widespread and tolerated.…”

“…Currently, over 26 million pupils between the ages of 6 and 12 years in 59 000 elementary (primary) schools in Nigeria are being taught by about 600 000 elementary school teachers (ESTs). [8] A large proportion of the earlier studies on CP dealt with those perpetrated by parents, [1,3,[9][10][11] as not only are parents the major care givers, but also because parental violence against children is the most prevalent type of family violence. [6,7] Eye injuries had resulted from some CP practices in domestic and school settings.…”

Maternal punishment practices in a rural area of Turkey

“…1998). Negative outcomes of physical punishment include child aggression, mental health issues and physical abuse (Ateah et al . 2003).…”