A national survey of childhood physical abuse among females in Swaziland

Matthew J. Breiding; James A. Mercy; Jama Gulaid; Avid Reza; Nonhlanhla Hleta-Nkambule

doi:10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.006

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Volume 3, Issue 2, June 2013, Pages 73 - 81

A national survey of childhood physical abuse among females in Swaziland

Authors

Matthew J. Breiding^a^{, *}^,dvi8@cdc.gov, James A. Mercy^a, Jama Gulaid^b, Avid Reza^c, Nonhlanhla Hleta-Nkambule^b

^aDivision of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS-F64, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA

^bUNICEF, P.O. Box 1859, Mbabane, Swaziland

^cDivision of Emergency and Environmental Health Services, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS-F60, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA

^*Corresponding author. Address: Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F-64, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA. Tel.: +1 770 488 1396; fax: +1 770 488 4349.

Corresponding Author

Matthew J. Breidingdvi8@cdc.gov

Received 24 August 2012, Revised 22 February 2013, Accepted 27 February 2013, Available Online 6 April 2013.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.006 How to use a DOI?
Keywords: Childhood physical abuse; Swaziland; Risk factors; Health consequences
Abstract: Objective: This study describes the scope and characteristics of childhood physical abuse in a nationally representative sample of 13–24 year-old females in Swaziland. The current study also examined health consequences and risk factors of childhood physical abuse.

Methods: The study utilized a two-stage cluster sampling design in order to conduct the household survey. Retrospective reports of childhood physical abuse and relevant risk factors were collected from 1292 females. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models examined associations between childhood physical abuse and both health consequences and risk factors.

Results: Nearly 1 in 5 females in Swaziland has experienced childhood physical abuse in their lifetime, with nearly 1 in 20 having experienced abuse that was so severe that it required medical attention. A number of risk factors for lifetime childhood physical abuse were identified including: maternal death prior to age 13; having lived with three or more families during their childhood; and having experienced emotional abuse prior to age 13.

Conclusions: Preventing childhood physical abuse in Swaziland may be addressed through: promoting safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between children and their caretakers; addressing social norms that contribute to harsh physical punishment; and addressing underlying stressors associated with severe social and economic disadvantage.
Open Access: This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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Journal: Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
Volume-Issue: 3 - 2
Pages: 73 - 81
Publication Date: 2013/04/06
ISSN (Online): 2210-6014
ISSN (Print): 2210-6006
DOI: 10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.006 How to use a DOI?
Open Access: This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Cite this article

ris enw bib

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Matthew J. Breiding
AU  - James A. Mercy
AU  - Jama Gulaid
AU  - Avid Reza
AU  - Nonhlanhla Hleta-Nkambule
PY  - 2013
DA  - 2013/04/06
TI  - A national survey of childhood physical abuse among females in Swaziland
JO  - Journal of Epidemiology and Global Health
SP  - 73
EP  - 81
VL  - 3
IS  - 2
SN  - 2210-6014
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.006
DO  - 10.1016/j.jegh.2013.02.006
ID  - Breiding2013
ER  -

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