JEDDAH: A new study funded by the Scientific Endowment at King Abdulaziz University revealed that housemaids, are more violent toward children inside homes than fathers.
Based on its findings, the study, titled “Role of Residential Environment of Families in Violence Against Children,” recommended more legislation to tighten penalties against violent caretakers and child abusers.
The study, which included the participation of main researcher Moshabib Gharama Al-Asramari, and co-researchers Ashraj Mujahed and Khaled Majhoud, provided a table that clarifies rates of violence against children by house occupants.
Fouad Merdad, deputy executive director of the endowment, said the study aims to identify violence against children and determine its types, focusing on the housing environment and its impact on the incidence of violence, and the groups that are more likely to be violent against children in the home.
He said the caretaking and maid group ranked first in terms of violence against children inside the home with 38.3 percent, followed by fathers with 35.7 percent.
Wives of husbands, or stepmothers, are least likely to be violent against children in the home with 2.8 percent, but the study noted the low figure is likely due to lack of presence of wives of husbands within the study sample.
Four implications of ill-treatment and scolding of children, the study noted, include medical effects such as wounds and dangerous injuries, learning difficulties, and long-term psychological and social effects that may lead children to isolate themselves from their surroundings.
Based on its findings, the study, titled “Role of Residential Environment of Families in Violence Against Children,” recommended more legislation to tighten penalties against violent caretakers and child abusers.
The study, which included the participation of main researcher Moshabib Gharama Al-Asramari, and co-researchers Ashraj Mujahed and Khaled Majhoud, provided a table that clarifies rates of violence against children by house occupants.
Fouad Merdad, deputy executive director of the endowment, said the study aims to identify violence against children and determine its types, focusing on the housing environment and its impact on the incidence of violence, and the groups that are more likely to be violent against children in the home.
He said the caretaking and maid group ranked first in terms of violence against children inside the home with 38.3 percent, followed by fathers with 35.7 percent.
Wives of husbands, or stepmothers, are least likely to be violent against children in the home with 2.8 percent, but the study noted the low figure is likely due to lack of presence of wives of husbands within the study sample.
Four implications of ill-treatment and scolding of children, the study noted, include medical effects such as wounds and dangerous injuries, learning difficulties, and long-term psychological and social effects that may lead children to isolate themselves from their surroundings.
