KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE OF PARENTS ON CHILD ABUSE -IN PUDUCHERRY POPULATION

Abstract

Child maltreatment is an umbrella term covering all forms of child abuse and child neglect including physical abuse; sexual abuse; and emotional (or psychological) abuse; by the parents or caregivers that cause actual or threatened harm to a child. The potential risk factors for the abuse ratings depend on parental employment status, alcohol abuse, and family size leading to myriad long-term health consequences, mental health disorders, sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and so on. In many Asian cultures, forceful parenting by use of force is looked at as a reflection of parental devotion by balancing disciplinary responsibilities within parenting. Such child abuse can result in immediate adverse physical effects but it is also strongly associated with mental health problems and developmental problems. Assessing abused children is generally tactful and requires more time than evaluating children who have not experienced maltreatment. Accordingly, we present findings from an exploratory questionnaire study featuring awareness by the parents towards child abuse (parents of children between 10-15 years of age) that offers some novel insights in the present paper. As results provided a significant proportion of parents do have a satisfactory level of knowledge regarding child abuse but still have insufficient knowledge, attitude and practice in the context of general child abuse and child sexual abuse.  Proper knowledge and awareness by the parents are required for the child welfare to prevent from untoward consequences.