Citation

Hyder AA, Malik FA. J. Health Popul. Nutr. 2007; 25(2): 168-178.

Affiliation

Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Suite E8142, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. ahyder@jhsph.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh; Centre for Health and Population Research)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17985818

PMCID

PMC2753994

Abstract

World Health Organization has identified violence against children as a growing public-health issue with a global magnitude. This paper explored violence against children as a challenge in the developing world using Pakistan as a case study. A systematic review of existing research and literature on violence against children was followed by assessing the magnitude of this challenge and its impact on policy. Most research done in Pakistan is observational, descriptive, and anecdotal with data collected through survey methods and interviews with small sample sizes. The findings suggest that the confluence of macro risk factors, such as poverty, poor legal protections, illiteracy, large family size, and unemployment, create an enabling environment for violence against children. Lack of empirical data makes it difficult to assess the magnitude of this issue. The health problems reported and the extent of human potential destroyed are unknown. Conclusion calls for focused research to examine the prevalence, potential interventions, and policies in Pakistan.

Language: en