Child maltreatment and associated sociodemographic factors among children affected by HIV/AIDS in Ghana: a multi-informant perspective

ABSTRACT

Child maltreatment is considered a major public health concern among children because they can cause significant physical and psychological problems. Child maltreatment is widespread but often underestimated. Surprisingly, there is hardly any data on child maltreatment and any associated sociodemographic factors children affected by HIV/AIDS in low-income countries. This study employed cross-sectional, quantitative survey that involved 291 children aged 10–17 years and their caregivers in the Lower Manya Krobo District, Ghana and examined their exposure to and experience of child maltreatment. The results show that at least one form of maltreatment was reported by approximately 90% of the children, and it was significantly higher among orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as compared with comparison children. Older age, frequent changes in residence, non-schooling and living with many siblings are associated with child maltreatment. The results demonstrate that maltreatment among children affected by HIV/AIDS are not rare, and that the dysfunction family conditions that they find themselves bear systemic risks for maltreatment. It is important that culturally appropriate and evidence-based interventions are implemented to address the maltreatment.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV/AIDS
• children
• maltreatment
• child abuse
• Ghana
• community-based survey

Acknowledgements

The author expresses his gratitude to the Ghana HIV/AIDS Orphans and Vulnerable Children (GHOVUC) study participants.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ note

The content of this article is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the funding agencies.

Ethical standards

The authors assert that all procedures contributing to this work comply with the ethical standards of the relevant national and institutional committees on human experimentation and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.