Frequency of Child Abuse and Related Risk Factors in Clients Referred to Urban Healthcare Centers in Bandar-Abbas

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of child abuse and its related risk factors in clients referred to urban healthcare centers in Bandar-Abbas, Iran. The study was conducted in healthcare centers and urban bases of Bandar-Abbas. The centers’ staffs in this stage of the project identified the cases of child abuse. All the staffs participated in the workshops to be familiar with various types of child abuse. The clients while referring for usual care were also investigated for child abuse and in case of any suspicious signs, they were registered in related forms. This study was the first stage of a research project aiming at studying the necessity to include child abuse issues in primary health care services and it contained identification of cases of child abuse at healthcare centers and its related risk factors. Among the children referred to the healthcare centers, 110 cases of negligence and 19 cases of physical abuse were recognized. Hyperactivity and anxiety were child-related risk factors of abuse and negligence. Illiteracy and depression of mothers, and illiteracy, addiction and unemployment of fathers were other risk factors. The rate of negligence was more in girls, children under two years and those with young fathers, and the rate of physical abuse was higher among boys and children over four years and was less in children having mothers with university degrees and those with young fathers. Child abuse is due to different factors relevant to child and parents. Identification of these risk factors is helpful in planning proper interventions to reduce child abuse. Having monthly and regular reference of families, healthcare centers are suitable places for identification of child abuse cases.