[Child abuse in in the city Temuco. Prevalence study and associated factors].
BACKGROUND
Child maltreatment is recognised as a significant health problem in developed countries. There is increasing awareness on family violence in Chile, becoming a health priority in the last five years, but there is scant information about its prevalence.


OBJECTIVE
Determine prevalence of child abuse, and associated factors in a population sample from Temuco, Chile.


METHODS
A standardised questionnaire was applied to a sample of 422 women at their homes. Instrument had questions about disciplinary practices by caretakers, a standardised questionnaire to assess mental health, as measures of risk and protective factors for violence


RESULTS
The prevalence of psychological aggression delivered by mothers or fathers was 17.5% and 6.8% respectively. The figures for corporal punishment delivered by mother or fathers were 42.3% and 17% respectively. Three percent of mothers and 1.2% of fathers recognised severe physical abuse. Associated factors were mother impaired mental health, antecedents of child abuse in both parents, parents alcohol abuse and child emotional/behavioral problem.


CONCLUSIONS
Child abuse is a extended significant problem in Temuco that requires multidisciplinary intervention programs.
Vizcarra
M B
MB
Departamento de Psicología, Facultad de Educación y Humanidades, Unidad de Capacitación, Investigación y Gestión en Salud, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile. vizcarra@ufro.cl
Cortés
J
J
Bustos
L
L
Alarcón
M
M
Muñoz
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires