Joseph Gary, Benn Audrey, Boston Cecil, Lowe Debra, Jeeboo Karishma, Arthur-Tucker La-Toya, Choy Lauristan, Lashley Lidon, Houvèssou Gbenankpon M, Hopkinson Tammy, Singh Thomas B
University of Guyana Georgetown Guyana University of Guyana, Georgetown, Guyana.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York United States of America Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, United States of America.
Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2025 May 27;49:e58. doi: 10.26633/RPSP.2025.58. eCollection 2025.
To assess the prevalence and factors associated with physical abuse against children in Guyana.
This study utilized nationally representative data from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted in Guyana in 2019. The percentage of children who endured physical abuse was the primary outcome studied. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between the exposure variables and the outcome. The slope index of inequality (SII) and the concentration index (CIX) were calculated to assess inequalities in child physical abuse.
In Guyana, 53.1% and 4.4% of children endured moderate and severe physical abuse, respectively. Children aged 24 months or older (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.29; 95% CI [1.33, 3.95]), living in the Interior (AOR 2.42; 95% CI [1.20, 4.87]), in households headed by females (AOR 2.32; 95% CI [1.47, 3.65]), whose mothers ever consumed alcohol (AOR 2.41; 95% CI [1.53, 3.79]) or had positive attitudes toward child physical abuse (AOR 4.37; 95% CI [2.07, 9.23]) were at higher risk of experiencing moderate physical abuse. The risk of severe physical abuse increased among children whose mothers had a positive attitude toward child physical punishment and decreased according to the mother's level of education. Important disparities were observed between boys and girls according to maternal education and geographic regions.
Children in Guyana who endured moderate physical abuse exceed 50% of the country's child population. Guyana needs to enact legislation that prohibits child physical abuse. Stringent enforcement is necessary to ensure Guyanese children do not continue to experience physical abuse.
评估圭亚那儿童遭受身体虐待的患病率及相关因素。
本研究使用了2019年在圭亚那进行的多指标类集调查中具有全国代表性的数据。遭受身体虐待的儿童百分比是主要研究结果。采用逻辑回归评估暴露变量与结果之间的关联。计算不平等斜率指数（SII）和集中指数（CIX）以评估儿童身体虐待方面的不平等情况。
在圭亚那，分别有53.1%和4.4%的儿童遭受中度和重度身体虐待。年龄在24个月及以上的儿童（调整后的优势比[AOR]为2.29；95%置信区间[CI][1.33, 3.95]）、生活在内地的儿童（AOR为2.42；95%CI[1.20, 4.87]）、由女性为户主的家庭中的儿童（AOR为2.32；95%CI[1.47, 3.65]）、其母亲曾饮酒的儿童（AOR为2.41；95%CI[1.53, 3.79]）或对儿童身体虐待持积极态度的儿童（AOR为4.37；95%CI[2.07, 9.23]）遭受中度身体虐待的风险更高。母亲对儿童体罚持积极态度的儿童遭受重度身体虐待的风险增加，且随着母亲教育水平的提高风险降低。根据母亲的教育程度和地理区域，男孩和女孩之间存在重要差异。
在圭亚那，遭受中度身体虐待的儿童超过该国儿童人口的50%。圭亚那需要制定禁止儿童身体虐待的立法。必须严格执法，以确保圭亚那儿童不再继续遭受身体虐待。
