Child abuse in Kuwait: problems in management.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the extent of child abuse in Kuwait and examine the difficulties associated with its management.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of the 60,640 medical records of children admitted to Al-Amiri and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospitals, Kuwait, between 1991 and 1998 was done.


RESULTS
Of the 60,640 records, 16 children showed evidence of abuse. Of these, the perpetrator was a parent in 75% of the cases, which involved the following abuses: physical, 13; sexual, 2; and Munchausen syndrome by proxy in 1. Children with physical abuse had more than one type that included bruises (77%), burns (38%), intracranial haemorrhage (38%), fractures (23%) and cut wounds (15%). Seven of the children were returned to their biological parents, 7 were lost to follow-up and 2 died.


CONCLUSIONS
Child abuse exists in Kuwait and is probably underreported. Management proceedings are not ideal and guidelines as well as legislation are needed.
Paediatric Departments, Al-Amiri Hospital and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait. wafaakt@yahoo.com
Wafa'a
W
Al-Ateeqi
Issa
I
Shabani
Aida
A
Abdulmalik
D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007730:Kuwait / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D010346:Patient Care Management; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies