Citation

Yokoyama Y, Okazaki A, Sugimoto M, Oda T, Tsukamoto S, Mizukami K, Sono J. Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi 2011; 58(1): 30-39.

Affiliation

Department of Community Health Nursing, Osaka City University, Osaka, 545-005 Japan.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, Nippon Koshu Eisei Zasshi)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

21409821

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This research was conducted to determine the prevalence of recognition of child maltreatment among mothers with children aged 12 or under, and to identify associated factors in order to prevent child maltreatment. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 3,000 women extracted by systematic random sampling of mothers of 6,790 children who had had four-month health check-ups in Nishinomiya city. The response rate was 57.5%. After excluding mothers with children aged 13 years and over, the study sample included 1,471 mothers with children aged 12 or under. A questionnaire survey was conducted by mail. Recognition of child maltreatment by mothers was assessed with a question that asked the mother if she was sometimes aware that she had potentially abused her child, and, if yes, what kind of acts had she performed. RESULTS: There were 333 mothers (22.6%) who answered "yes" to the question "Are you sometimes aware that you have potentially abused your child?" These mothers reported emotional or physical aggression toward their children. Results of logistic regression showed that recognition of child maltreatment was associated with existence of a child whom the mother felt difficulty in cherishing, number of children, maternal poor health, higher scores of STAI trait anxiety and disabled children. Mothers reported difficulties in child-rearing for more than one child as the main reason behind existence of a child whom the mother felt difficulty in cherishing. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested that mothers with more than one child need more support in order to prevent child maltreatment.

Language: ja