Maternal and child factors for reported child abuse among Chinese in Hong Kong.

We have investigated the factors predisposing to child abuse in Hong Kong Chinese, using a case-control approach. The response rate for the cases was low because access was obtained only via the authorities, and refusals were common before we were able to make personal contact with the families. Neighbourhood controls were used, and provided matching for socio-economic factors. The factors found to be significant for child abuse in Hong Kong Chinese include: psychological impairment of the mothers, assisted delivery, and separation of the child from the mother in the first year of life. All these factors probably have an adverse effect on mother-to-infant bonding, which predisposes to child abuse. Child abuse was precipitated by feeding and school problems in this Chinese series which involved children much older than in the West. The implications for the prevention of child abuse in Hong Kong are discussed.