BackgroundChild maltreatment (CM) is a public health problem and is recognized as a huge barrier for child development. Most of the research and definitions on CM are from the perspective of high-income western countries. Because no major studies have been conducted on CM in Bangladesh, the aim of the current study was to explore the experiences of and perceptions on CM in school-age children in rural and urban Bangladesh in order to understand maltreatment in a local context and from a child perspective. MethodsSemistructured individual interviews with 24 children (13 boys and 11 girls), between the ages of 9 and 13years of which 11 were schoolgoing and 13 non-schoolgoing, were conducted during July 2013 and analysed according to qualitative content analysis. ResultsCM was a common and painful experience with serious physical and emotional consequences but highly accepted by the society. Vulnerable groups were especially young children, girls, and poor children. The children's voices were not heard due to their low status and low position in their families, schools, and working places. The main theme that emerged in the analysis was children's subordination, which permeated the five categories: (a) perception of children's situation in society, (b) understanding children's development and needs, (c) CM associated to school achievement, (d) negative impact of CM, and (e) emotional responses. ConclusionsDifferent kinds of abuse are obviously common in Bangladesh, and the schools do not follow the law from 2011 prohibiting corporal punishment at school. The society has to take further steps to live up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was ratified already in 1990, to protect the Bangladeshi children from CM.

As in most low-income countries, there is a lack of scientific information on the incidence and pattern of child maltreatment (CM) in Bangladesh. However, the role of the media to disclose CM and to develop public awareness in society is noteworthy. The present study assessed newspaper reports about CM by type and socio-demographics of victims and perpetrators in Bangladesh. In total, 790 news articles were collected retrospectively from four Bengali- and two English-language newspapers from October to December 2014. Among all reported incidents, almost half of the CM cases concerned alleged physical abuse (26%) and sexual abuse (22%). Neglect and emotional or psychological abuse received less coverage. Female children were to a high degree (90%) victims of sexual abuse. The main perpetrators were males, and they were often known to the victims. Approximately 32 per cent of the reported abuse cases resulted in death and were related to rape, family violence, administrative negligence, abduction and ransom demand. Some of these deaths were suicides. News stories concerning CM were often reported in an unethical way by identifying the victim and not respecting child rights. Further, the stories seldom discussed the individual or social consequences of CM, or how maltreatment could be prevented. 'The present study assessed newspaper reports about CM by type and socio-demographics of victims and perpetrators in Bangladesh' Key Practitioner Messages The main types of reported cases of CM in Bangladeshi print media are physical abuse and sexual abuse, and there is a high proportion of fatal consequences. The perpetrators are often known to the victims. The identity of the victim is frequently reported, potentially putting the child at risk and violating child rights. Bangladeshi print media seldom discusses individual or societal consequences of CM, or how it could be prevented.

Background Although child physical abuse (CPA) is considered as a major global public health problem, it has not yet been recognized as such in Bangladesh. Very few studies have assessed the prevalence and victims' characteristics of multiple forms of CPA. Objective This population-based study assessed the prevalence of CPA committed by adults in a rural area of Bangladesh and examined its association with demographic and socio-contextual factors. Methods Data were obtained using ISPCAN Child Abuse Screening Tool for Children (ICAST-C) in a random sample of 1416 children (49% girls, 51% boys) aged 11 to 17 years by face-to-face interviews during March-April 2017. The response rate was 91.5%. To estimate predictors of CPA, physical abuse was categorized into frequent and less frequent groups. Results The prevalence of at least one form (>= 1), two forms (>= 2) and three or more forms (>= 3) of CPA were estimated approximately to 99%, 95% and 83% in their lifetime and 93%, 79%, and 57% in the past year respectively. Hitting (except on buttocks), standing/kneeling and slapping were the most common physical abuse whereas given drugs or alcohol, pinched, burned or scalded, beaten-up and locked up were less reported. Female children were faced severe forms of CPA more than that of males. Male children, younger age groups, witnessing adults using weapons at home, bullied by siblings and low level of maternal education were found to be significant risk factors for both >= 1 form and >= 2 forms of frequent CPA whereas adding also adult shouting in a frightening way was found as a significant risk factor for >= 2 forms of frequent CPA. Conclusion Self-reported prevalence of CPA is extremely common in the Bangladeshi rural society. The prevalence was associated with demographic and socio-contextual characteristics of the children such as being younger, witnessing domestic violence and maternal low education. The findings provide evidence to support parents and policy-makers to take effective measures to implement policy and programme on alternative up-bringing methods and creating awareness of negative effects of CM which in turn help Bangladesh to line up with UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the country signed in 1990.

Aim We aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of child psychological abuse and neglect in a rural area of Bangladesh. Methods Data were obtained from interviewing 1416 children aged 11-17 years administering the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse Screening Tool for Children between March and April 2017. Linear regression analysis was used to estimate the risks of child psychological abuse and neglect. Results The prevalence rates of at least one form of psychological abuse both in the past year and lifetime were more than 97 per cent. Moreover, the rates of at least one form of neglect were about 58 per cent during the past year and 78 per cent over lifetime. Living separately from parents posed children to significant risks of neglect and psychological abuse. Working children and greater number of siblings in a family were risk factors for neglect, whereas witnessing family violence and being bullied were risk factors for psychological abuse. Children with more years of schooling experienced less neglect and psychological abuse. Conclusion The high prevalence of child psychological abuse and neglect in this study shows child maltreatment as an ignored issue in Bangladesh.