OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in Hunan.

METHODSUsing a multi-stage sampling strategy, 9451 households involving 32 720 persons in urban, rural and industrial areas in Hunan, China were studied. Multiform clue investigation and face-to-face interviews were combined to investigate the prevalence of DV.

RESULTSA lifetime prevalence of DV was reported by 1533 households (16.2%). A total of 1098 households (11.6%) reported at least one incident of DV in the previous year. Both lifetime and 12-month prevalence of DV varied significantly by geographic setting (P < 0.01). The lifetime prevalence abuse rates were: spousal 10.2%, child abuse 7.8%, and elder 1.5%. With regard to household structure, the lifetime prevalence of DV was highest among those remarried families (21.0%), followed by married couples with one child and extended families with several generations living together (20.1% and 20.0%, respectively). The highest rate of spousal abuse was found among remarried families (14.7%), while child and elder abuse was most prevalent among extended families (12.4% and 4.1%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe findings suggested that although the prevalence of DV in Hunan was modest compared to Western countries, it remained a serious public health problem affecting over 1 in 10 households. Furthermore, the prevalence of various types of DV varied by geographic setting and family structure, suggesting that diverse geographic setting and family constellations carried different risk and protective features.

Aged ; Child ; Child Abuse ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Elder Abuse ; statistics & numerical data ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Family ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Marriage ; statistics & numerical data ; Only Child ; Prevalence ; Spouse Abuse ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo explore the status of child neglect among urban areas children and adolescents aged 3 - 17 years in China.

METHODSUsing multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, 8001 children and adolescents were recruited from 30 cities of 14 provinces in December 2008. The investigation was carried based on The 3 - 6 years old children Neglect Norms of city in China and The 6 - 17 years old children Neglect Norms of city in China. SPSS 13.0 was employed for analyzing neglect rate and degree for group of areas, age, sex and neglect type (including neglect of physical, emotional, educational, medical, safety and social).

RESULTSThe degrees of child neglect for urban children aged 3 - 6 (children aged 6 were not in school), 6 - 8 (children aged 6 were school children), 9 - 11, 12 - 14 and 15 - 17 were 42.2 ± 6.9, 42.8 ± 8.4, 42.1 ± 9.1, 46.4 ± 9.2 and 49.7 ± 8.4(P < 0.05), the neglect rates were 28.0% (326/1163), 28.8% (431/1496), 27.2% (543/1962), 22.4% (373/1664) and 32.8% (563/1716) (P < 0.05), respectively. There were differences in six neglect types for each group; the neglect degrees and rates were high in the group aged 12 - 14 and 15 - 17 (46.4 ± 9.2 and 49.1 ± 8.4, 22.4% (373/1664) and 32.8% (563/1716), respectively); for each neglect type, the neglect degree of children aged 15 - 17 were highest (52.8 ± 8.0, 47.3 ± 11.6, 49.5 ± 10.8, 42.4 ± 10.3, 52.2 ± 16.0, 56.0 ± 10.1). The degree and rate of neglect in West were highest, Middle was next, the East was lowest (the neglect degrees were 45.4 ± 9.1, 45.0 ± 9.3 and 44.0 ± 8.8, P < 0.05;the rates were 30.7% (1340/4361), 25.0% (756/3024) and 21.2% (131/616), P < 0.05). Degree and rate of child neglect for children without siblings were lower than children with siblings (the neglect degrees were 44.2 ± 9.0 and 47.6 ± 9.1, P < 0.01; the rates were 26.1% (1572/6017) and 33.0% (655/1984), P < 0.01). Neglect degree of school children aged 6 years old (43.1 ± 7.3) was higher than children not in school (40.7 ± 7.8) (P < 0.01), but neglect rate was lower (the rates were 35.4% (60/169) and 21.3% (84/394), P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONNeglect degree and rate of urban children and adolescents aged 3 - 17 years in China were both high, and neglect deserved more attentions.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo develop the national neglect norms for urban primary school students in China.

METHODSAccording to multi-stage stratified cluster sampling principle, 24 cities of 13 provinces (municipalities) in China were selected during December 1 to 31, 2008. A total of 1491 students in grade 1 - 3 and 2236 students in grade 4 - 6 were selected. Questionnaire was designed by authors and the final norms were determined through several statistical analysis methods, such as item analysis method, factor analysis method, reliability analysis method. The reliability analysis and validity analysis were used to test the stability and reliability of the norms. The evaluation criteria of the scale was determined by the percentile method, then the initial development of the norm was completed.

RESULTSThe two questionnaires of grade 1 - 3 and grade 4 - 6 students consisted of 55 and 57 items, respectively, whose item loadings were ranged from 0.301 to 0.687 and 0.321 to 0.730, which met the statistical requirements. For grade 1 - 3 students, the scale's total Cronbach α coefficients was 0.914, the total split-half reliability coefficients was 0.896, the Cronbach α coefficients of four level was above 0.737 except medical and social neglect, split-half reliability was ranged from 0.461 to 0.757; for grade 4-6 students, the scale's total Cronbach α coefficients was 0.916, split-half reliability was 0.883, except social neglect, the Cronbach α coefficients of other level was ranged 0.457 to 0.856, split-half reliability was ranged from 0.500 to 0.798. The total neglect cut-off score of the two scales grade 1-3 and 4-6 were 125 and 155, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe structure of two norms was reasonable. The scales have good stability and reliability.

Child ; Child Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Schools ; Students ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study measures nursing students' ability to recognize child abuse and identifies the factors related to varying levels of recognition. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from 370 third and fourth year nursing students using a self-reported questionnaire during November 15-30, 2011. The measuring tool for child abuse recognition used in the study was developed by Ozasa (2011) and is composed of 44 items including physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and neglect. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, two sample t-tests, and regression analysis were evaluated with the SPSS/PC ver20.0 program. RESULTS: Nursing students were concerned about child abuse(85.4%), but knew little about related laws and regulations(14.3%), and they had almost no formal education or training regarding how to recognize child abuse. They only 1.6% reported child abuse even if they encountered such incidents; however, they correctly recognized even infrequent incidents of child abuse. Recognition of sexual abuse ranked highest, while recognition of neglect ranked lowest. Those with higher levels of concern over child abuse showed higher recognition scores. Regression analysis revealed that physical abuse, mental abuse, and neglect had different related factors, while sexual abuse had none. CONCLUSION: Education and training on the subject of child abuse is strongly recommended in nursing curriculums so that nurses will be able to appropriately respond to and report suspected child abuse.
Child ; Child Abuse ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Curriculum ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Sex Offenses ; Statistics as Topic ; Students, Nursing ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo study the risk factors and abusers' characteristics on childhood sexual abuses among female students to provide reference data for preventive measures on child sexual abuse.

METHODSAnnonymous questionnaire survey of 701 adult female students in a college about their personal experience on childhood sexual abuses, their home conditions and abusers' characteristics.

RESULTSA total number of 701 female students were surveyed. 115 (22.11%) experienced non-physical contact sexual abuses before the age of 18, including 26 (3.71%) who suffered from attempted and 8 (1.14%) were forced with genital or anal sexual intercourse. 117 (16.69%) said they had suffered from sexual abuse before the age of 16. Most abusers were males (99.4%) and only a small percentage of them (3.2%) used violence. Most non-physical contact sexual abuses were from strangers (78.7%), while 71.3% of physical contact abuses were from acquaintances including 12.5% of them were teachers, 17.5% were neighbors and 21.3% were relatives. The risk factors of child sexual abuses were: frequent use of violence, bad hobbies and poor health conditions of parents, tight family relationships, and living in remarried families. Having well-educated fathers was a preventive factor.

CONCLUSIONStudies on childhood sexual abuses among females revealed that the incidents were not rare, and family environment played an important role.

Adult ; Child ; Child Abuse, Sexual ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Family Relations ; Female ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Students ; statistics & numerical data ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universities

Objective: To evaluate the prospective association between childhood abuse experiences and depressive symptoms in adolescence. Methods: Students in grade 3 and 4 from three primary schools were selected, with informed consent, through convenience cluster sampling in Bengbu, Anhui province in May 2013. The students' body height, weight were assessed. Childhood abuse experiences including emotional, physical or sexual abuses, as well as depressive symptoms were reported by children themselves. Data on parental educational background and household economic status were collected through parent questionnaire. A follow up was conducted 4 years later after baseline survey. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by using Children's Depression Inventory at baseline survey, and by using Mood and Feeling Questionnaire at follow-up. Logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between childhood abuse experiences and depressive symptoms in adolescence. Results: A total of 1 172 students were included in baseline survey, and a follow-up was conducted for 87.1% of them (n=1 021). Among 1 126 students with complete information on childhood abuse experiences at baseline survey, the reported rates of physical, emotional and sexual abuses were 12.8% (144/1 126), 11.1% (125/1 126) and 10.9% (123/1 126), respectively. The prevalence of depressive symptoms at baseline survey and follow-up was 7.0% (82/1 172) and 12.3% (126/1 021), respectively. After adjusted for baseline depressive symptoms, age at follow-up, sex, the only-child in family, household economic status, divorce of parents and BMI, childhood emotional and physical abuse experiences were significant risk factors for depressive symptoms in mid-adolescence, with the ORs were 1.86 (95%CI: 1.03-3.36, P=0.039) and 2.37 (95%CI: 1.39-4.03, P=0.001), respectively. Conclusion: Childhood physical and emotional abuse might increase the risk of depressive symptoms in adolescence.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child Abuse/statistics & numerical data* ; China/epidemiology* ; Depression/epidemiology* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Students/statistics & numerical data* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

INTRODUCTION: There is an increasing trend of physical child abuse cases reported in Singapore. Children presenting to the Emergency Department with injuries require a high index of suspicion for clinicians to distinguish those that are abusive in nature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study of children with diagnosis of NAI presenting to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH) from June 2011 to May 2016 was conducted. RESULTS: There were 1917 cases reported from 1730 subjects, of  which: 8.8% of subjects had repeat visits; 55.2% of cases were male; and mean age was 7.69 years. Racial demographics were: Chinese 45.5%, Malay 33.4%, Indian 15.4% and Others 5.9%. The most frequent injuries sustained were head and neck (50.8%), limbs (32.2%), and chest (5.7%). Of the type of injuries, 55% had contusions, 21% had cane marks, 16% had lacerations, 4.4% had burn marks and 1% sustained fractures. Males were more likely to be caned ( <0.001); 54.9% of cases were admitted and 38.9% were discharged. Cases that presented without a parent ( <0.001), were known to Child Protective Service ( <0.001), or had a history of  parental substance abuse ( = 0.038), mental illness in caregiver ( = 0.021), or domestic violence ( <0.001) were more likely to require admission. CONCLUSION Analysing these factors provide a better understanding of  the presentation of  NAI cases, including 'red flags' and vulnerable groups who should have better protection.
Age Factors ; Child ; Child Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; statistics & numerical data ; Ethnic Groups ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Hospitalization ; statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Mandatory Reporting ; Needs Assessment ; Physical Abuse ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Sex Factors ; Singapore ; Vulnerable Populations ; statistics & numerical data ; Wounds and Injuries ; diagnosis ; epidemiology

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of childhood physical and emotional abuse on psychological health in undergraduate students.

METHODSA questionnaire investigation (Bernstein, revised) on childhood abuse history was performed in 1 200 undergraduate students in Xi'an. Their psychological states were assessed by Symptom Check List-90.

RESULTSSix hundred and sixty-eight students (55.7%) had physical and emotional abuse experiences, including humiliation, corporal punishment, beating or activity confinement, before 16 years old. Twenty-one percent of the 1 200 students experienced beating, even serious beating with equipment. The students who experienced serious physical and emotional abuse during childhood were more prone to the development of somatization symptoms, obsession, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety and paranoia than those students without abuse experiences.

CONCLUSIONSChildhood physical and emotional abuse is common in China and this may adversely affect the psychological health of undergraduate students who have experienced it.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child Abuse ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mental Health ; Retrospective Studies ; Students ; psychology ; Universities

OBJECTIVETo examine the child sexual abuse (CSA) experiences and its associations with self-reported mental health status and risky behaviors among university students.

METHODSA retrospective survey was conducted in 565 undergraduate students, from a university in northeast China, by anonymous self-administered questionnaire in September 2003. Research subjects were asked on a series of retrospective questions about CSA, as well as questions on depression, self-esteem, symptoms of psychological disease and risky behaviours.

RESULTSPrevalence of any unwanted sexual experience before the age of 16 years was 20.0% for females and 14.3% for males. 11.3% of females and 7.7% of males reported ever having had at least one type of physical contact abuse. The students with CSA were with more depression, lower health self-evaluation; more symptoms in somatization, hostility, obsessive and anxiety. More students reported to have experienced sexual intercourse, been drunk, and suicide ideation than unaffected students.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that unwanted child sexual abuse was not uncommon, and associated with poor mental health. The findings highlighted the urgent need for sexual abuse prevention programs and mental health services for victims in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child Abuse, Sexual ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSES: The purposes of this study were to examine knowledge related to child abuse, attitudes toward child abuse, and intention to report child abuse and to identify the predictors of nurses' intention to report child abuse. METHOD: A descriptive-correlational study was conducted. Participants were 171 nurses who worked in the pediatric or emergency rooms in G city. Self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics, t-test or ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Nurses had a limited knowledge related to child abuse. Nurses had negative attitudes toward child discipline, were inclined to punish the abuser, and had positive attitudes about professional responsibility for reporting child abuse. Nurses perceived difficulty in the actual behavior of reporting child abuse. Nurses' intention to report child abuse was predicted by nurses' attitudes to professional responsibility for reporting child abuse. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the findings of this study, educational programs need to be developed, implemented, and evaluated. The conclusion of this study is that supplementary education is needed for multidisciplinary decision making concerning the role of the nurses within the context of child abuse.Implications for nursing practice, education and research are discussed.
Child ; Child Abuse* ; Child* ; Data Collection ; Decision Making ; Education ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Intention* ; Nursing ; Statistics as Topic ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires