The document discusses child maltreatment as a global problem with serious negative impacts on physical and mental health. It notes that while millions of children experience abuse annually, recognition of the issue has increased in recent decades. The document reviews prevalence data showing high rates of physical and sexual abuse globally. It is noted that child maltreatment can contribute to long-term health issues and hamper a country's development. The types and risk factors of child maltreatment are defined. Studies of prevalence in Saudi Arabia are presented, showing physical abuse and neglect are most common but underreporting is an issue. The document calls for improved awareness, data collection, and prevention programs to address child maltreatment.

1. Presented by:
Wael Alzhrani
Preventive Medicine
KSA

4. • Every child has the right to health and a
life free from violence.
• Each year, though, millions of children
around the world are the victims and
witnesses of physical, sexual and
emotional violence.
WHO & INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION
OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

5. Child maltreatment is a huge global problem
with a serious impact on the victims’
physical and mental health, well-being
and development throughout their lives
and, by extension, on society in general .
WHO & INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PREVENTION
OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

6. • In the past, child abuse was not readily
recognized and, therefore, tended to be
ignored.
• Internationally, child abuse has only become
more visible over the past two decades.
• Sari N, Büyükunal SNC. A study of the history of child abuse. Pediatr Surg Int 1991;6:401-6

7. •The historical literature offers enough
proof that child abuse has always existed,
showing that it has been practiced by
many societies since ancient times.
Sari N, Büyükunal SNC. A study of the history of child abuse. Pediatr Surg Int 1991;6:401-6

8. • 40 million children subjected to
abuse each year.
• Approximately 5 children die every
day because of child abuse.
• 1 out of 3 girls and 1 out of 5 boys
will be sexually abused before they
reach age 18.

9. • Approximately 20% of women
and 5–10% of men report being
sexually abused as children,
• while 25–50% of all children
report being physically abused.

10. The lifelong consequences of child
maltreatment include impaired
physical and mental health, poorer
school performance, and job and
relationship difficulties.

11. Ultimately, child maltreatment
can contribute to slowing a
country's economic and social
development.

14. •Child maltreatment is any act or
series of acts of commission or
omission by a parent or other
caregiver ,that results in harm,
potential for harm, or threat of harm
to a child.

15. •Words or overt actions that cause
harm, potential harm, or threat of
harm.
•Physical abuse
•Sexual abuse
•Psychological abuse

16. •Failure to provide needs or to protect
from harm or potential harm
•Physical neglect
•Emotional neglect
•Medical and dental neglect
•Educational neglect
•Inadequate supervision
•Exposure to violent environments

17. Physical discipline and corporal
punishment are forms of physical abuse

19. • Abused children often suffer
physical injuries including
cuts, bruises, burns, and
broken bones.
• In addition, maltreatment
causes stress that can
disrupt early brain
development .

20. • As a result, children who are
abused or neglected are at
higher risk for health problems
as adults.
• These problems include
alcoholism, depression, drug
abuse, eating disorders,
obesity, high-risk sexual
behaviors, smoking, suicide,

21. Global prevalence of child
maltreatment

24. In 2014, the World
Health Organization
(WHO)
estimated that 23%
of children
worldwide were
physically abused

25. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
58%
12%
8.20%
5.40%
8%
prevalence of Physical Abuse, 2014

26. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
64% 67%
74.20%
81.40%
prevalence of Physical Abuse, 2010

27. According to the
World Health
Organization (WHO),
20% and 5-10% of
girls and boys,
respectively, had
experienced sexual
abuse universally

28. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
24%
6%
0.20%
5.40%
prevalence of Sexual Abuse

30. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
61%
22%
16.80%
3.00%
29%
prevalence of Child Neglect

40. 0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
2
1
0 0
Karthikeyan et al.,
Total = 3

41. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
70%
15%
0
15%
Al-Mahroos,
Total = 40

42. 0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9
1
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
1
0 0 0
Abdulgani et al.,
Total = 1

43. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
49%
15%
3%
32%
Al Eissa and Almuneef,
Total = 133

45. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
54%
12%
0
33%
NFSR (National Family Safety Registry) ,
Total = 378

46. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
36%
21%
5%
38%
NFSR, Total = 263

47. 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
13%
87%
0 0
Almadani et al,,
Total = 87

56. Admission to Ward 33.3%
Admission to PICU 13.1%
Out patient 46.9%
Fatalities 1.9%

60. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
0 0
54
0
Elarousy and Al-Jadaani,
Total = 54

61. 0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Physical
abuse
Sexual
abuse
Psychological
abuse
Child
neglect
29%
7%
38%
25%
Al Eissa et al,
Total = 4016

63. Child abuse and neglect are
sensitive issues in SA, and most
caregivers will not seek medical
help except in severe abuse and
neglect scenarios, which may
have affected the accuracy of
the reporting and the overall
prevalence of this issue

64. Finally, most of the included
studies were case reports, case
series studies, and cross-
sectional studies, thus limiting
the accuracy of detecting the
exact extent of the problem.

66. Physical abuse and neglect were shown to be the
most prevalent
forms of maltreatment of children in SA

67. Awareness of child
abuse and neglect is improving in SA.

68. the detecting and reporting of such cases are
increasing, which may facilitate further
improvement of actions to counter child abuse

69. More large-scale studies
and the recording of all available data in a national
level registry are recommended.

70. Child Maltreatment Prevention

71. Child Maltreatment Programs
•Aim to prevent the occurrence and/or
the recurrence of child abuse &
neglect by:
• Increasing community awareness and
knowledge (primary)
• Intervening early in situations where risk
factors are present (secondary)
• Attempting to reduce the long-term
impact where maltreatment has already
occurred (tertiary)

72. •Define the problem using statistics that
describe scale of maltreatment and
characteristics of most affected.
•Identify the causes and the risk factors
that affect susceptibility to
maltreatment.

73. Child Maltreatment Programs

74. Child Maltreatment Programs

75. Essentials for Childhood: Steps to Create Safe,
Stable, Nurturing Relationships and
Environments

76. Essentials for Childhood: Steps to Create Safe,
Stable, Nurturing Relationships and
Environments

77. Goal 1: Raise Awareness and
Commitment to Promote Safe,
Stable, Nurturing Relationships
and Environments and Prevent
Child Maltreatment

78. Goal 2: Use Data to Inform
Actions

79. Goal 3: Create the Context for
Healthy Children and Families
through Norms Change and
Programs

80. Goal 4: Create the Context for
Healthy Children and Families
through Policies

82. Thank you