Citation

Al-Ateeqi W, Shabani I, Abdulmalik A. Med. Princ. Pract. 2002; 11(3): 131-135.

Affiliation

Paediatric Departments, Al-Amiri Hospital and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait. wafaakt@yahoo.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, Karger Publishers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12138294

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To explore the extent of child abuse in Kuwait and examine the difficulties associated with its management. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the 60,640 medical records of children admitted to Al-Amiri and Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospitals, Kuwait, between 1991 and 1998 was done. RESULTS: Of the 60,640 records, 16 children showed evidence of abuse. Of these, the perpetrator was a parent in 75% of the cases, which involved the following abuses: physical, 13; sexual, 2; and Munchausen syndrome by proxy in 1. Children with physical abuse had more than one type that included bruises (77%), burns (38%), intracranial haemorrhage (38%), fractures (23%) and cut wounds (15%). Seven of the children were returned to their biological parents, 7 were lost to follow-up and 2 died. CONCLUSION: Child abuse exists in Kuwait and is probably underreported. Management proceedings are not ideal and guidelines as well as legislation are needed.

Language: en