title: Determining child maltreatment incidence in Saudi Arabia using the ICAST-CH: a pilot study.
abstract: Studies in other countries, including countries with mandated reporting by professionals and a long history of recognition of the problem, have found child abuse to be seriously under reported. This population-based pilot study was conducted to determine the magnitude of adolescents' exposure to CAN at home, and to identify ethical and methodological challenges to conducting a survey on a culturally sensitive subject. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Al-Kharj city in 2011-2012. Through a stratified multistage cluster random sampling of schools, a sample of adolescents (15-18 years) were identified and invited to participate. The ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool-Child: Home version (ICAST-CH) was used for data collection. The previous year's incidence of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to violence were assessed. A total of 2,043 students participated in the study (mean age, 16.6 years; 58%, female). The incidence of psychological abuse, physical abuse, exposure to violence, neglect, and sexual abuse were 74.9%, 57.5%, 50.7%, 50.2%, and 14.0%, respectively. Female participants were at higher risk for psychological and physical abuse, exposure to violence, and neglect, but not for sexual abuse. The rates and gender distribution of CAN at home differ from findings of health-based records. Our results are comparable to other regional population-based studies. Thus, population-based data are necessary to inform and guide professionals and decision makers for prevention policies and resource allocation. Insights to ethical and methodological challenges surrounding the sensitive nature of this type of study are discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Family Safety Program, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Emergency Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Majid A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Al-Eissa
authors.affiliation: National Family Safety Program, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fadia S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: AlBuhairan
authors.affiliation: National Family Safety Program, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qayad
authors.affiliation: National Family Safety Program, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saleheen
authors.affiliation: University of Colorado School of Medicine, 13001 E 17th Pl, Aurora, CO 80045, USA; The Kempe Center (The Kempe Foundation for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect), The Gary Pavilion at Children's Hospital Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, 13123 E 16th Ave., B390, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
authors.forename: Desmond
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Runyan
authors.affiliation: National Family Safety Program, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, and King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City-Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almuneef
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Adolescents; Child abuse and neglect; Ethics; Incidence; Saudi Arabia