Social factors in relation to physical abuse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Available evidence has shown that the type of abuse perpetrated on children depends considerably on the social and other factors inherently faced by these children. A total of 119 cases of physical abuse was detected by the Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Team of General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur in 1991. Eighty-two cases were categorized as mild and 37 as severe. The average age of those mildly abused was 7.9 years, for those severely abused the average age was 4.2 years. The perpetrators of those mildly abused were often their own parents. However, among those severely abused, the child-minder was the most frequent abuser. Ninety-two of all cases were in families of social classes IV and V. In 47 cases, there was definite evidence of family disharmony or disruption. Among the 37 severely abused, the parents were either divorced or separated in 14 cases. There was a personality disorder in seven of the cases. Six of the abusers were also using drugs and nine were alcoholics. This paper shows that, even in a developing country, the social milieu is important in the type of abuse inflicted.
Department of Pediatrics, General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
M S
MS
Kasim
H M
HM
Shafie
I
I
Cheah
D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003906:Developing Countries; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class