[Current status and associated risk factors of child abuse on children aged 7-12 in rural areas of Ningxia].

OBJECTIVE

To describe the current status and associated risk factors on child abuse in children aged 7-12 in rural areas of Ningxia.

METHODS

Using multistage sampling method to select townships and villages. Children aged 7-12 and their guardians were selected by random sampling method in those villages. Current status on child abuse was described under related percentage while logistic regression model was used to evaluate the risk factors associated with child abuse.

RESULTS

A total number of 704 children aged 7-12 from 15 villages in two counties were interviewed. Among them, 359 (50.2%) children had experienced child abuse (include physical abuse, negligence, emotional/physical abuse and sexual abuse) in the past year. Physical abuse (44.6%) was the most frequent one in all the child abuse cases. Only 10 (1.4%) children had a comprehensive understanding of 'child abuse'. 55.5% of the children had ever reported this problem to their parents or teachers when suffered from abuse episodes. Results from the logistic regression model showed that factors as: being boys (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.01-1.85), under Han nationality (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.06-2.08), at younger age (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.05-1.28), staying with single parent (OR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.16-3.64) and from wealthy family (OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.03-2.33) were at risk for child abuse.

CONCLUSION

Child abuse in rural areas in Ningxia was a serious problem, Children's cognitive to child abuse was very low. More attention should be paid to children with the following characteristics as: being boys, under Han nationality, at younger age, staying with single parent.