Prevalence and risk factors for emotional abuse among school children aged 13-15 years in a District in Sri Lanka

Abstract

A matched analysis identified several risk factors which had a statistically significant relationship with emotional abuse. Findings of the study show that the indicators of close contact of the mother with the child i.e. limited time spent by the mother with children, lack of interest by the caregivers to participate at the interview on the first request and the mother not living with the child were identified as important risk factors contributing to emotional abuse. This association was demonstrated in the descriptive study too. In addition, preferential treatment of male children, domestic violence in the family were significantly associated with the occurrence of emotional abuse. Logistics regression after controlling for the effects of confounding indicated that domestic violence, lack of interest in the caregivers to participate at the interview and male preference were significantly associated as risk factors for emotional abuse. The association of emotional abuse with negative outcomes like poor school performance and poor school attendance indicates the need to develop activities to minimize the occurrence of emotional abuse and its negative sequels. The focus of such programmes should be parents of young children, future parents and would be parents specially the mother