title: Prevalence of childhood maltreatment among college students in Erbil, Iraq.
abstract: Child maltreatment has not been adequately researched in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In a sectional study to measure the frequency of different forms of maltreatment in childhood and its related factors, 275 college students from Erbil, Iraq were assessed for a history of childhood abuse using a questionnaire adapted from the Childhood Maltreatment Interview Schedule-Short Form. Of the students, 20.0% had a history of exposure to at least 1 type of childhood maltreatment in the form of physical (6.5%), emotional (16.4%) and/or sexual (2.9%) abuse. Neglect of their basic needs during childhood was reported by 19.0% of students. Childhood abuse was significantly more common among students coming from homes with domestic violence. Male students were significantly more likely to be left alone at home 4 times or more during childhood than were females (26.4% versus 18.8%). Childhood physical and emotional abuse and neglect is a problem in this community and there are significant correlates with the occurrence of intimate partner violence.
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Saed
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Talat
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Saed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult