Physical violence against school children

Abstract EN

Objective: to find out the prevalence of violence against children in Iraq through a sample of primary school children, and to throw light on some of the associated factors. Methods: Sixty primary schools were surveyed.

A total of 4528 students (2396 boys and 2132 girls age between 8-11 years) were interviewed to collect information about age, gender, number of sisters and brothers, father's and mother's occupation, in addition to information about exposure to violence (source, frequency, reasons for violence, sequel of violence, reaction and feeling of the child towards violence). Results: the results showed that 64% of the sample children were exposed to violence.

The main source was the mother (62.5%) followed by the father (59.2%).

Quarrels were the main reason for violence (74.9%).

Regarding gender; 75.5% of the boys and 52.5% of the girls were exposed to violence.

The most common reaction of the child was silence 38.6%, crying 33.6% and violence 14.1%.

While 44.7% agreed that violence was not good, 29.3% take it as a natural norm.

The results also showed that 93% of children living in families with domestic violence were exposed to violence. Conclusions: Two thirds of the children are subjected to violence at home, school, or street.

The perpetrators are mainly the parents.

Some of children tolerate violence and consider it as normal.

There is a link between domestic violence against women and that against children.

There was a highly significant association between large family size and violence.