Child abuse in Kuwait: problems in management

Affiliations

01 July 2002

-

doi: 10.1159/000063241


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.


Similar articles

Towards improving care for children with diabetes in Kuwait.

Shaltout AA, Qabazard MA, al Khawari M, Bushnaq R, Abdella NA, Abdul Salam R, Mughal H.Int J Health Care Qual Assur. 1995;8(7):4-8. doi: 10.1108/09526869510101557.PMID: 10152597

Hospital management of children with acute asthma exacerbations in Kuwait: adherence to international guidelines.

Hijazi Z, Abdulmalek AK, Al-Taweel F, Al-Shareda S.Med Princ Pract. 2002 Jul-Sep;11(3):126-30. doi: 10.1159/000063244.PMID: 12138293

Child abuse and neglect in the Arab Peninsula.

Al-Mahroos FT.Saudi Med J. 2007 Feb;28(2):241-8.PMID: 17268704 Review.

Recognition of burns as a marker of child abuse in the paediatric emergency department.

Geoghegan AR.N Z Med J. 2013 Sep 13;126(1382):129-31.PMID: 24154783 No abstract available.

[Psychiatric aspects of child maltreatment].

Kórász K.Orv Hetil. 2014 May 4;155(18):694-702. doi: 10.1556/OH.2014.29854.PMID: 24776383 Review. Hungarian.


Cited by

Non-Accidental Injuries in Pediatric Primary Care: A Systematic Literature Review of Objective Assessment Tools and Trends in Gulf Cooperation Council Region.

Alqirnas MQ, Alrasheed F, Alhumaidan MI, Alrasheed M, Alkharashi Y, Almosa AS, Althaqeb EK, Almulhem SA, Khallaf SA, Almahmoud RS, AlTulaihi B.Cureus. 2023 Mar 6;15(3):e35819. doi: 10.7759/cureus.35819. eCollection 2023 Mar.PMID: 37033519 Free PMC article. Review.

Child maltreatment prevention readiness in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Al Eissa M, Saleheen HN, Almuneef M, Al Saadoon M, Alkhawari M, Almidfa A, Almahroos F.Int J Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2019 Sep;6(3):92-100. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpam.2019.07.009. Epub 2019 Jul 22.PMID: 31700967 Free PMC article.

Parental authority to refuse acute burn treatment versus the protection our children deserve.

Al-Tarrah K, Khashaba H, Wilson Y, Al-Fadhli A, Moiemen N.Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2013 Mar 31;26(1):30-5.PMID: 23966896 Free PMC article.

Epidemiology of burn injuries in the East Mediterranean Region: a systematic review.

Othman N, Kendrick D.BMC Public Health. 2010 Feb 20;10:83. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-83.PMID: 20170527 Free PMC article. Review.


KMEL References