Ten Years Data of Child Abuse and Neglect Cases Managed at the First Hospital Based Child Protection Unit in Pakistan
Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Asia Pacific Journal of Psychiatric Child Health
Abstract
Background: Managing child abuse and neglect cases is extremely difficult in low-income countries, with daunting challenges in
health, social welfare, education, and legal systems. PAHCHAAN initiated Child Protection Unit (CPU) at Children Hospital Lahore,
Pakistan is the first hospital-based Child Protection Unit in South Asia. Although it could not be replicated, it has managed to sustain
for 10 years.
Aims: The study presents ten years of data from CPU expressing case distribution for gender, age, abuse type, and perpetrator. It also
explores gender and age as risk factors. Methods: Retrospective data were collected through an intake and follow-up forms of 1654
confirmed CAN cases during the 10-year period from 2009-2018.
Results: 70.5% of all cases suffered from severe neglect and 66.1% of the total cases reported immediate family as perpetrators. Chisquare results show a significant relationship χ2(4, N=1654) =26.25, p<.001 between gender of the child and type of abuse the child
suffered, indicating a higher frequency of male victims for neglect and physical abuse whereas a higher frequency of female child sexual
abuse victimization.
Conclusion: There is only one CPU in Pakistan and due to severe human resource and financial constraints only the most severe cases
of CAN are reported. Child Abuse and Neglect is a grossly under-reported and unrecognized common problem which needs urgent
attention.
Description
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Article
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Keywords
research, International Resources, Pakistan, child protection unit, child abuse, multidisciplinary response
Citation
Zafar, N., Naeem, M., Zehra, A., & Khalid, M. (2020). Ten years data of child abuse and neglect cases managed at the first hospital based child protection unit in Pakistan. Asia Pacific Journal of Psychiatric Child Health, 3, 30-36.