childrens Act

Children Act 1974 and its Practical Implementation Legal Analysis 1.1. Background Challenges to the health of our children have been changing in recent decades as we are able to tackle many diseases through immunization and child health programmes. However, new challenges are being uncovered. Child abuse and neglect is one of them. This has been poorly recognized as a public health problem in the world, particularly in South-East Asia.1 More than strangers, care providers themselves and ideal figures of children are involved in child abuse. Indeed, about 40 million children are estimated to be abused every year resulting in physical, psychological, emotional and social sufferings. Child abuse exists in all sections of society and in all countries. Only the extent of the problem, the nature of abuse and consequences, and child protection and recovery modalities differ in different socioeconomic strata.1 When parents are unhappy in their parental role or when a factional relationship exits between them, some babies become neglected or abused. The second year of life is a more common time for abuse than the first because babies are more troublesome to their parents and this triggers the outlet of anger, resentment and other unpleasant emotions endangered in the relationship of the parents.

Child abuse is not limited to home situation. The children's presence in the labour market carries many implications, of which the most important is their absence from schools. A large proportion of the working children hardly goes to schools or has ever been to school. They are employed in unskilled jobs, where they do not get even the opportunity to learn meaningful skills. Invariably, a child who begins work from an early age spends his entire life at the lowest level of the society, doing routine, menial, low-wage and unskilled tasks.11 It is important especially for health educators to the behavior disorders and emotional problems that affect children. The emotional maladjustments of children frequently are characterized by anxiety reactions. They may include habit disorders-such as nail-biting, thumb-sucking, bed-wetting and temper tantrums and conduct disorders-such as extreme aggressiveness, lying, stealing, destructiveness, fighting, fire setting, cruelty and running away from home. Among infants, deprivation of mothering or problems in the infant's relationship with the mother may lead to withdrawn behavior, continuous crying, inability to eat, insomnia. In the last half of the 20 th century, child abuse and neglect have been seen as a significant factor in childhood disorders.(Williams-1980) Child abuse also called cruelty to children, the willful and unjustifiable infliction of pain and suffering on children. The term can denote the use of inordinate physical abuse; unjustifiable verbal abuse; the failure to furnish proper shelter, nourishment, medical treatment, or emotional support; incest; other cases of sexual molestation or rape; and the making of child pornography. Frequently described by the medical profession as the "battered child syndrome," abusive treatment of children is almost universally prescribed by criminal statutes.

Cruelty to children can have many causes, but several major ones stand out. Abusive patterns of behaviour on the part of parents can be thought of as maladaptive responses to stressful situations and feelings of powerlessness. Recent psychiatric and pediatric research has found that a high proportion of parents guilty of abusive and inhuman treatment of their children was physically and mentally maltreated themselves as children. Typically over disciplined and deprived of parental love in their infancy, these parents repeat the pattern with their own

children, often hi the belief that they are legitimately exercising their parental right to punish a child.

With proper social and psychotherapeutic intervention, most child abusers can be helped.

Many emotionally troubled abusers are believed to be found out, and they readily respond to the therapeutic help they receive. Legal remedies for child abuse range from incarceration of the offender to the removal of the abused child from the custody of parents or others guilty of committing the crime.

This dissertation is intended to identify the knowledge and perception of Child Abuse in order to strengthen the capacity of publics in understanding the challenges and barriers, identifying child abuse, preventing children from future abuse, and managing physical, sexual, psychological and social consequences of these abuses.

1.2 Justification Abused children today can be abusers to their children tomorrow. Abused children today are likely to have poor physical and mental health tomorrow. Child abuse is unacceptable in any civilized society.

Because of its extent and gravity of the consequences, public health systems must be mobilized to prevent child abuse.

Child abuse in society has been endemic for generations and is a hidden phenomenon with only a small percentage being apparent. The most obvious cases seen by society and authorities are the complaints and detections by concerned adults. However, some of these cases would be denied by adults, dismissing them as an imagination or fantasy. Child abuse often presents indirectly as violence, school refusal, depression, suicide, substance abuse, in conflict with the law, or with sexualized behavior, and therefore not recognized as abuse.

Some children present with somatic complaints such as abdominal pain, while others may come with "dissociated" disorder. A large number of children would not complain because they have been threatened, blackmailed or tricked with "bribes" and the abuse described as "games". The largest numbers of abuse that occur in society do not get recognized because it may be justified in society as a "norm" such as corporal punishment with or without injury, child labour, sexual molestation of children or child marriages. Society may not only justify but may even glorify child soldiers.

Recently social reformers and social psychologist raised their concern about child abuse which is detrimental for the normal development of a child. Child abuse can have serious future consequences for the victims involved. It delays physical growth, impaired language and cognitive abilities. Problems in learning and behavior are common following instances of child abuse and neglect. Because the child is living through active and critical phases of development, the approach to diagnosis and children's mental and emotional disturbances is necessarily different from that employ with adults. Personality is being molded and changed as the child grows and so it is essential that public health personal should have extensive knowledge of the developmental stage of personality.

In societies, in Bangladesh, which revolves around strict religious values and strong conservatism, children, even small babies are being sexually abused in this country. What is more horrifying is that the abusers of this gruesome act are people whom the children are familiar with their family members, family friends, neighbors, domestic servants, teachers, even those who teach them religion. (Star Weekend Magazine, July 25, 1997)

This study is taken in consideration to the fact that child abuse is an universal practice and should not be continued. Let us make the precious lives of our children safer by preventing inhuman abuse and neglect. Let our children grow free from abuse, social awareness should be created to curve this situation.

1.3 Research Question and Objectives A. RESEARCH QUESTION What is the awareness of knowledge and perception of child abuse among the adolescent boys?

B. GENERAL OBJECTIVE To assess the knowledge and perception of child abuse among the adolescent boys in some selected school in Dhaka city.

C. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE To assess the knowledge and perception regarding child abuse among the adolescent boys attending in secondary school in term of types causes, ratings of behaviors, abusive persons, bad effects and experience of victim at home and school environment.  To identify the sources of information about child abuse.  To find out the opinion about preventive measures of child abuse.  To find out the relationship between perception of child abuse and socio-economic condition of the family.

1.4 Variables Socio-Demographic Variables;  Age  Section  Religion  Parents Education  Parents Occupation  Monthly Family Income  Types of Family Members of the Family.

Key Variables:  Ever Heard of Child Abuse  Source of Information about Child Abuse  Types and Ratings of severity of Child Abuse  Causes of Child Abuse  Sex differential and prevalence of Child Abuse  Abusive Persons for Child Abuse  Bad Effects for Child abuse  Nature of Child Abuse and Victim of parental abuse and at school.

1.5 Operational definitions Knowledge: By the definition of Hornby AS, knowledge is the understanding on a subject or topic, or familiarity gained by experience or a range of information. In this study knowledge refers to degree of knowing how far the class ix students know about Child Abuse, its type, causes, bad effects and abused by parents at home and abused by teacher's at school. .

Perception: means the feelings, attitudes, and images people have of different places, peoples, and environments. In this study perception refers to feelings of severity of Child Abuse and its types among the respondents.

Child: In this study child means, O-18* years of age of a person, Respondents: in this study who were interviewed were called the respondents. The students of class ix of 3 schools were the respondents, Adolescent: school boys of class ix have been considered as adolescents for this study, "Adolescent" has been defined as a population segment aged 10-19 years with specific characteristics according to WHO. Age: age of the respondents was recorded in completed years as stated by the respondents during interview.

Religion: means whether the respondents were Muslim, Hindu or Christians etc. as stated by the respondents.

Occupational status of respondent's parents: any activities a person involved in maximum time in a day.

Service: who is employed and gets salary on regular basis.

Business: person earns money from personal monetary investment.

Housewife: women do household works in her own house and not Engaged in other service.

Labour: who earn the wages by physical labour.

Unemployed: who is currently unemployed and who earn money before but does not earn money at present.

Education status of respondent's parents: education qualification recorded as stated by the respondents.

Illiterates: respondent's parents having no schooling or formal education they could neither write nor read.

Primary level: respondent's parents attended or passed any level from class I- class v.

Secondary level: respondent's parents attended or pass any & level from class VI- class VIII. SSC: respondent's parents obtained secondary school certificate examination.

HSC: respondent's parents obtained higher secondary school certificate examination.

Graduate: respondent's parents who have passed the bachelor degree.

Masters: respondent's parents who have passed the masters degree.

Family member: total number of members, means members of family who have eating from one source of cooking.

Monthly family income: sum of the money earn by the family members (from any source) Nuclear family: family is consisting one single married family along with their children.

Joint family: family is consisting of a number of married couples and their children and spouses living together in a same household.

Domestic Abuse: Any act or omission by a family members regarding of the physical location where the act take place, which negatively effects the Well-being, physical, sexual, and psychological integrity freedom or right to full development of a child.

Grading of Knowledge: To assess the knowledge status, question No-22,23 & 24 were selected and asked with its sub-division , each question carrying 1 point. Respondents were awarded by points according to their correct answers in respective question. Poor knowledgecan correct answered 7 to 12 questions. Good knowledge-can correct answered more than 13 questions.

Scoring of Perception: To assess the perception status, question No. 17 were selected and asked with its sub-division, each question carrying 4,3,2, or 1 points according to the severity of Abuse patterns. Respondents were awarded by points according to their correct answers in respective question.

Poor perception-can correct answered below 27 questions.

Good perception- can correct answered more than 27 questions.

First History of child abuse: Abuse of children was first described in the West about forty years ago. In developing countries, although the prevalence is likely to be high. Physical Abuse was first described in Sri-Lanka in the mid-1980s and has been increasingly reported over the succeeding years, while sexual abuse was highlighted in the early 1990s.1 About 40 million children under the age of 14 years are estimated to suffer from abuse and neglect around the world ( WHO- 99). Child abuse in developing countries, including South Asia, is yet to be recognized as a major social and health problem with an enormous burden on the economy and society. Therefore it is imperative not only to recognize child abuse from a clinical perspective but also for society, including professionals, to understand and accept it as a malady as well as to change their attitudes towards it.1 Definition of child abuse: The international Society for the prevention of child abuse and neglect recently compared definitions of abuse from 58 countries and found some commonality in what was considered abusive. In 1999, the WHO Consultation on Child Abuse Prevention drafted the following definition: “Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional illtreatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power."2 Bangladesh definition: "In case of child abuse it may be defined as children are not used in the right way.

Child abuse is widely prevalent in Bangladesh as well as all over the world. But these are usually overlooked by families, friends, relatives and health workers because of prejudice, anxiety and shame.�3

Types of child abuse: The definition given above covers a broad spectrum of abuse. This focuses primarily on acts of commission and omission by parents or caregivers that result in harm to the child. In particular, it explores the prevalence, causes and consequence of four types of child maltreatment by caregivers, namely: - Physical abuse - Sexual abuse - Emotional abuse - Neglect.

1 .Physical child abuse: types and warning signs Physical abuse of a child is that which results in actual or potential physical harm from an interaction or lack of interaction, which is reasonably within the control of a parent or person in a position of responsibility, power, or trust. There may be single or repeated incidents (WHO, 1999).4 Physical child abuse is an adult's physical act of aggression directed at a child that causes injury, even if the adult didn't intend to injure the child. Such acts of aggression include striking a child with the hand, fist, or foot or with an object; burning the child with a hot object; shaking, pushing, or throwing a child; pinching or biting the child; pulling a child by the hair; cutting off a child's air. Such acts of physical aggression account for between 15 and 20 percent of documented child abuse cases each year.

Many physically abusive parents and caregivers insist that their actions are simply forms of discipline, ways to make children learn to behave. But there's a big difference between giving an unmanageable child a swat on the backside and twisting the child's arm until it breaks.

Physically abusive parents have issues of anger, excessive need for control, or immaturity that make them unable or unwilling to see their level of aggression as inappropriate.

Sometimes the very youngest children, even babies not yet born, suffer physical abuse.

Because many chemicals pass easily from a pregnant woman's system to that of a fetus, a mother's use of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy can cause serious neurological and physiological damage to the unborn child, such as the effects of fetal alcohol syndrome; mothers can also pass on drugs or alcohol in breast milk. A woman who drinks or uses drugs when she knows she's pregnant can be charged with child abuse in many jurisdictions if her Baby is born with problems because of the substance use.

Another form of child abuse involving babies is shaken baby syndrome, in which a frustrated caregiver shakes a baby roughly to make the baby stop crying. The baby's neck muscles can't support the baby's head yet, and the brain bounces around inside its skull, suffering damage that often leads to severe neurological problems and even death. While the person shaking the baby may not mean to hurt him, shaking a baby in a way that can cause injury is a form of child abuse.4 An odd form of physical child abuse is Munchausen's syndrome by proxy, in which a parent causes a child to become ill and rushes the child to the hospital or convinces doctors that the child : ^k. It's a way for the parent to gain attention and sympathy, and its dangers to the child constitute child abuse.

2. Sexual abuse in children: types and warning signs Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violate the laws or social taboos of society. Child sexual abuse is evidenced by an activity between a child and a adult or another child who by age or development is (WHO, 1999) in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person. This may include but is not limited to:  The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity.  The exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices.  The exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials. (WHO,1999) Sexual abuse, which accounts for about 10 percent of child abuse, is any sexual act between an adult and a child. Such acts include: • Behavior involving penetration - vaginal or anal intercourse and oral sex • Fondling - Touching or kissing a child's genitals, making a child fondle an adult's genitals.

• Violations of privacy - Forcing a child to undress, spying on a child in the bathroom or bedroom.

• Exposing children to adult sexuality - Performing sexual acts in front of a child, exposing genitals, telling "dirty" stories, showing pornography to a child.

• Exploitation - Selling a child's services as a prostitute or a performer in pornography.

The adult who sexually abuses a child or adolescent is usually someone the child knows and is supposed to trust: a relative, childcare provider, family friend, neighbor, teacher, coach, or clergy member. More than 80 percent of sex offenders are people the child or adolescent victims know. It's important to understand that no matter what the adult says in defense of his or her actions, the child did not invite the sexual activity and the adult's behavior is wrong.

Sexual abuse is never the child's fault.

Children are psychologically unable to handle sexual stimulation. Even toddlers, who haven't formulated the idea that the sexual abuse is wrong, will develop problems resulting from the overstimulation. Older children who know and care for their abusers know that the sexual behavior is wrong, but they may feel trapped by feelings of loyalty and affection. Abusers warn their victims not to tell, threatening children with violence or ostracism, and the shame associated with the sexual activity makes the child especially reluctant to tell. When sexual abuse occurs within the family, children may worry that other family members won't believe them and will be angry with them if they tell — as is often the case. The layer of shame that accompanies sexual abuse makes the behavior doubly traumatizing.

Some signs of sexual child abuse Often children who have suffered sexual abuse show no physical signs, and the abuse goes undetected unless a physician spots evidence of forced sexual activity. However, there are behavioral clues to sexual abuse, including: • Inappropriate interest in or knowledge of sexual acts • Seductive behavior • Reluctance or refusal to undress in front of others

• •

Extra aggression or, at the other end of the spectrum, extra compliance Fear of a particular person or family member

Children who use the Internet are also vulnerable to come-ons by adults online. Among the warning signs of online sexual child abuse are these: • • • • • • •

Your child spends large amounts of time online, especially at night.

You find pornography on your child's computer.

Your child receives phone calls from people you don't know, or makes calls, sometimes long distance, to numbers you don't recognize.

Your child receives mail, gifts, or packages from someone you don't know.

Your child turns the computer monitor off or quickly changes the screen on the monitor when you come into the room. .

Your child becomes withdrawn from the family.

Your child is using an online account belonging to someone else.

3. Emotional child abuse: types and warning signs Emotional abuse includes the failure to provide a developmentally appropriate, supportive environment, including the availability of a primary attachment figure, so that the child can develop a stable and full range of emotional and social competencies commensurate with her or his personal potential, and in the context of the society in which the child dwells. There may also be acts towards the child that cause or have a high probability of causing harm to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. These acts must be reasonably within the control of the parent or person in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power. Acts including restriction of movement, patterns of belittling, denigrating, 'scapegoating', threatening, scaring, discriminating, ridiculing, or other nonphysical forms of hostile or rejecting treatment (WHO,1999).4 Examples of emotional child abuse include: Verbal abuse • Belittling or shaming the child: namecalling, making negative comparisons to others, telling the child he or she is "no good," "worthless," "a mistake."

• Habitual blaming: telling the child that everything is his or her fault.

Withholding affection • Ignoring or disregarding the child • Lack of affection and warmth: Failure to hug, praise, express love for the child Extreme punishment These are actions that are meant to isolate and terrorize a child, such as tying the child to a fixture or piece of furniture or locking a child in a closet or dark room.

Corruption This involves causing a child to witness or participate in inappropriate behavior, such as criminal activities, drug or alcohol abuse, or acts of violence.

Emotional abuse can come not only from adults but from other children: siblings, neighborhood or schoolyard bullies, and peers in schools that permit a culture of social ostracism (the “mean girl” syndrome. The signs of emotional child abuse include apathy, depression, and hostility. If it happens at school, the child may be reluctant to go to school and develop or fake a physical complaint

4. Child neglect: types and warning signs Neglect is a pattern of failing to provide for a child's basic needs, to the extent that the child's physical and/or psychological well-being are damaged or endangered. In child neglect, the parents or caregivers are simply choosing not to do their job. There are three basic types of neglect.

Physical Neglect 1. Failure to provide adequate food, clothing, or hygiene 2. Reckless disregard for the child's safety, such as inattention to hazards in the home, drunk driving with kids in the car, leaving a baby unattended 3. Refusal to provide or delay in providing necessary health care for the child 4. Abandoning children without providing for their care or expelling children from the home without arranging for their care Educational 1. Failure to enroll a child in school Neglect 2. Permitting or causing a child to miss too many days ofschool 3. Refusal to follow up on obtaining services for a child's special educational needs Emotional Neglect 1. Inadequate nurturing or affection 2. Exposure of the child to spousal abuse 3. Permitting a child to drink alcohol or use recreational drugs 4. Failure to intervene when the child demonstrates antisocial behavior.

Some signs of child neglect: • Clothes that are dirty, ill-fitting, ragged, and/or not suitable for the weather • Unwashed appearance; offensive body odor • Indicators of hunger: asking for or stealing food, going through trash for food, eating too fast or too much when food is provided for a group • Apparent lack of supervision: wandering alone, home alone, left in a car • Colds, fevers, or rashes left untreated; infected cuts; chronic tiredness • In schoolchildren, frequent absence or lateness; troublesome, disruptive behavior or its opposite, withdrawal.

• In babies, failure to thrive; failure to relate to other people or to surroundings A single occurrence of one of these indicators isn't necessarily a sign of child neglect, but a pattern of behaviors may demonstrate a lack of care that constitutes abuse.

Factors increasing child abuse: A number of studies, mostly from the developed world, have suggested that certain characteristics of children increase the risk for abuse.

Age: Child abuse- whether physical, sexual or neglect depends in part on a child's age. Fatal cases of physical abuse are found largely among young infants. In reviews of infant deaths in Fiji, Finland, Germany and Senegal the majority of victims were less than 2 years of age. Young children are also at risk for non-fatal physical abuse, though the peak ages for such abuse vary from country to country. For example, rates of

non-fatal physical abuse peak for children at 3-6 years of age in China, at 6-11 years of age in India and between 6 and 12 years of age in the United States. Sexual abuse rates, on the other hand, tend to rise after the puberty, with the highest rates occurring during adolescence.

Sexual abuse can also be directed at young children.2 Sex: In the most countries, girls are at highest risk than boys for infanticide, sexual abuse, educational and nutritional neglect, and forced prostitution. Finding from several international studies show rates of sexual abuse to be 1.5-3 times higher among girls than boys. Male children appear to be at greater risk of harsh physical punishment in many countries. .

Special characteristics of child: Premature infants, twins and handicapped children have been to be at increased risk for physical abuse and neglect. It is believed that low birth weight, prematurity, illness or physical or mental handicaps in the infant or child interfere with attachment and bonding and may make the child more vulnerable to abuse.

Caregiver and family characteristics: Sex: whether abusers are more likely to be male or female, depends in part, on the type of abuse. Research conducted in China, Chile, Finland, India, and the United States suggests that women report using more physical discipline than men. In Kenya, reports from children also show more abuse by mothers than fathers. However, men are the most common perpetrators of life-threatening head injuries, abusive fractures and other fatal injuries; Sexual abusers of children, in the cases of both female and male victims, are predominantly men in the many countries. Studies have consistently shown that in the case of female victims of sexual abuse, over 90% of the perpetrators are men, and in the case of male victims, between 63% and 86%of the perpetrators are men.2 Family structure and resources: Physical abusive parents are more likely to be young, single, poor, unemployed and to have less education than their non-abusing counterparts. In both developing and industrialized countries, poor, young, single mothers are among those at greatest risk for using abuse towards their children. In the United States, for instance, single mothers are three times more likely to report using harsh physical discipline than mothers in two-parent families. Similar findings have been reported in Argentina. Studies from Bangladesh, Colombia, Italy, Kenya, Sweden, Thailand and the United Kingdom have also found that low education and a lack of income to meet the family's needs increase the potential of physical abuse towards children. In a study of Palestinian families, lack of money for the child's needs was one of the primary reasons given by parents for psychologically abusing their children.

Family size and household composition: the size of the family can also increase the risk for abuse. A study of parents in Chile, for example, found that families with four or more children were three times more likely to be abused towards theirs children than parents with fewer children. Data from a range of countries indicate that household overcrowding increases the risk of child abuse.

Personality and behavioral characteristics: A number of personality and behavioural characteristics have been linked, in many studies, to child abuse and neglect. Parents more

likely to abuse their children physically tend to have low self-esteem, poor control of their impulses, mental health problems and to display anti-social behaviour.

Prior history of abuse: Studies have shown that parents maltreated as children are at higher risk of abusing their own children. The relationship hare is complex, though, and some investigations have suggested that the majority of abusing parents were not, in fact, themselves abused. While empirical data suggest that there is indeed a relationship, the importance of this risk factor may have been linked to child abuse-such as young parental age, stress, isolation, overcrowding in the home, substance abuse and poverty-may be more predictive.

Causes of child abuse Why would someone abuse a defenseless child? What kind of person abdses a child? Not all child abuse is deliberate or intended. Several factors in a person's life may combine to cause them to abuse a child: • Stress, including the stress of caring for children, or the stress of caring for a child with a disability, special needs, or difficult behaviors • Lack of nurturing qualities necessary for child care • Immaturity: a disproportionate number of parents who abuse their children are teenagers.

• Difficulty controlling anger • Personal history of being abused • Isolation from the family or community • Physical or mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety • Alcohol or drug abuse • Personal problems such as marital conflict, unemployment, or financial difficulties.

No one has been able to predict which of these factors will cause someone to abuse a child.

A significant factor is that abuse tends to be intergenerational -those who were abused as children are more likely to repeat the act when they become parents or caretakers.4 In addition, many forms of child abuse arise from ignorance. Sometimes a cultural tradition leads to abuse. Such beliefs include: • Children are property.

• Parents (especially fathers) have the right to control their children in any way they wish.

• Children need to be toughened up to face the hardships of life.

• Girls need to be genitally mutilated to assure virginity and later marriage.

Effects of child abuse Child abuse can produce dire consequences during the victim's childhood and adulthood.

Some effects of child abuse are obvious: a child is malnourished or has a cast on her arm; a nine-year-old develops a sexually transmitted disease. But some physiological effects of child abuse, such as cognitive difficulties or lingering health problems, may not show up for some time or be clearly attributable to abuse. Other effects of child abuse are invisible or go off like time bombs later in life.

Emotional Effects of Child Abuse Just as all types of child abuse have an emotional component; all affect the emotions of the victims. These effects include • Low self-esteem • Alienation and withdrawal • Depression and anxiety • Personality disorders • Aggressive behavior/anger issues • Clinginess, neediness • Relationship difficulties • Flashbacks and nightmares Many adults who were abused as children find it difficult to trust other people, endure physical closeness, and establish intimate relationships.4 Behavioral Effects of Child Abuse Child abuse can play itself out not only in how its victims feel but in what they do years later.

Children who suffer abuse have much greater chances of being arrested later as juveniles and as adults. Significant percentages of inmates in U.S. prisons were abused as children. One of every three abused or neglected children will grow up to become an abusive parent.4 Other behavioral effects include • Problems in school and work • Criminal or antisocial behavior • Prostitution • Alcohol and drug abuse • Teen pregnancy • Eating disorders • Suicide attempts • Spousal abuse Health consequences of child abuse 111 health cause by child abuse forms a significant portion of the global burden of disease.

While some of the health consequences have been researched, others have only recently been given attention, including psychiatric disorders and suicidal behaviour. Importantly, there is now evidence that major adult forms of illnessPhysical Abdominal/ thoracic injuries Brain injuries Bruises and welts Burns and scalds Central nervous system injuries Disability Fractures Lacerations and abrasions Ocular damage Sexual and reproductive Reproductive health problem Sexual dysfunction Sexually transmitted disease, including HIV/AIDS Unwanted pregnancy Psychological and behavioural Alcohol and drug abuse Cognitive impairment

Delinquent, violent and other risk-taking behaviours Depression and anxiety Eating and sleep disorders ' Feelings of shame and guilt Hyperactivity relationships Poor school performance Post-traumatic stress disorder Psychosomatic disorders Suicidal behaviour and self-harm Other longer-term health consequences Cancer Chronic lung disease Fibromyalgia Irritable bowel syndrome Ischaemic heart disease Liver disease Reproductive health problems such as infertility 2.1 International studies The historical perspective allows us to stand back from the everyday experience of confronting the bettered or neglected child and to reflect on the wider issues of what has been presented to us as a single incident in time. Those who have sought to uncover evidence of child abuse in the past have had to collect their material widely, often reading between the lines and recognizing indirect messages of what was happening. There is much to support a view of history that it was found in early societies that where there was lower level of child care, the more likely children were killed, abandoned, beaten, terrorized and sexually abused.

Thus wrote Lioyd De Mause in the preface of his history of childhood. William Langer, Professor of History at Harvard University, 7 wrote: The direction of human affairs has never been confided to children, and historians, who have concerned themselves primarily with political and military affairs and at most with the intrigues and rivalries of royal courts, have paid almost no attention to the ordeals of childhood. Even the students of education have, on the whole, devoted themselves to the organization and curriculum of schools and with theories of education with only occasional reference to what happened to the pupils at home and in the world at large.

Yet the history of childhood must be of major importance to any study of human society, for if, as it is said, the child is the father of the man, it should be possible, with an understanding of any individual's or any group's past, to form a more intelligent judgement of their performance as adults.

Unhappily, the results of these investigations are most depressing. They tell a long and mournful story of the abuse of children from the earliest times even to the present day. We need not assume that the generalizations here advanced apply to all people at all time. No-one can doubt that there have always been parents who have loved and cherished their children and that such mistakes as they may have made in the upbringing were due to ignorance rather than to ill will.

However it was Freud who more dearly changed our view of childhood. It is found at case conferences that participants are interested to know of the parents' childhood to understand their present actions (De Mause 1980) Samuel Radbil in a conference in 1895 showed that London children were battered: "by boots, crockery, pans, shovels, straps, ropes, thongs, pokers, fire and boiling water".

Neglected children were described as miserable, vermin infested, filthy, shivering, ragged,

nigh naked, pale, puny, limp, feeble, faint, dizzy, famished and dying. One hundred years ago, begging was common but children begging in the streets of London has become a common occurrence in 1991.13 He also commented on the way how child's fitness to live was tested. The Germans would plunge the child into ice cold water, the Greeks would leave the child on a mountain top, North American Indians threw children into a pool of water to see if they floated. Naming of the child is another important way of recognizing the child's existence. The Christian child required to be christened and given a name before his soul could go to heaven. Without christening, he would have to be buried in unhallowed ground along with the dogs and cats.

Children Born out of wedlock have long been outlawed and especially liable to abuse and infanticide (Radbill 1987).

Anxiety about violence has spread to children of all social classes. A recent poll in the United States revealed that one half of the children questioned said that their most important worry was that someone they loved would become the victim of a violent crime. Another study reported that 25%of the children in Midwestern inner-city grade school described at least one violent event that involved either the child, a family member, or a friend. Many of these children described tow or more violent events, and they were nearly twice as likely as their classmate to report low self-esteem, excessive crying, and worried about dying or being injured.5 Physical abuse Almost 1.5 million children are reported to have been physically and/or sexually abused.

Parents who abuse their children not only injure their child physically and psychologically but also "teach" the child to use force to resolve conflicts. Often, these same parents permit their children to be abused to their siblings and others.

The number of reports to children's protective services (CPS) and law enforcement agencies in the country in which the alleged abuse or neglected occurred have steadily increased since mandated reporting began in the 1960s. Reports of all types of abuse increased 50%,from 30 per 1,000 children to 45 per 1,000, between 1985 and 1992. Inl992, 2.9 million CPS reports were filed, and 1,261 children died of maltreatment. Of reported children, 85% were younger than Syr of age, and 45% were younger than lyr of age. 60% of these reports were "Substantiated" by CPS.5 A survey of families with children aged 3-1 Syr indicated that 140 of 1,000(14%) were kicked, bitten, punched, hit with an object, beaten up, or threatened with a knife or gun in lyr.

Approximately 10% of injuries to children younger than 5yr of age who are seen in emergency departments are due to abuse; 15% of the children admitted for burns and 50% of children younger than l yr of age with fractures are abused. In 1991, the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System indicated that 24% of 838,232 reports were for physical abuse; 7% of children were younger than l yr of age, 27% were younger than 4yr of age, and 28% were 4-8yr of age. The rate of reports decreases in older children. Of the 1,229 assessments done in a pediatric hospital during that same period, 223(28%) of 797 reports were for physical abuse and the death rate was 6%. Immediate family members were the perpetrators in 55% of abuse cases. The most common perpetrators were the father (21%), Mother (21%),boyfriend of the mother (9%),baby sitter (8%)and stepfather (5%). The average age of the abuser was 25 yr.

Parents who abuse their children have been reported from most ethnic, geographic, religious, educational, occupational, and socioeconomic groups. Groups living in poverty may have increased reports of child abuse because (l) of the increased number of crises in their lives (eg.-unemployment or overcrowding); (2)they have limited access to economic or social resources for support during times of stress; (3)of the increased violence in the communities where they live; (4)of an association of poverty with other risk factors, such as teen-age and Single parenthood and substance abuse; and (5)there may be more scrutiny by community agencies and neighbors.

More than 90% abusing parents have neither psychotic nor criminal personalities. Rather they tend to be lonely, unhappy, angry, young, and single parents who do not plan their pregnancies, have little or no knowledge of child development, and have unrealistic expectations for child behavior. 10-40%of abusive parents have experienced physical abuse as children. (Source窶年eelson Pediatric Text Book of chapter 37,38) Sexual abuse Child sexual abuse does exist as a significant problem. Sexual abuse occurs in children of all ages, including the very young, too boys as well as girls, in all classes of society and frequently within the privacy of the family.

Media reporting and increasing adult disclosure have provided the first glimpses of what Roland Summit has termed "society's blind spot". If one was allowed only a single epithet to describe child sexual abuse, it might be 'Hidden' (Summit-1988).

There is little doubt that sexual abuse of children has been recorded as long as human beings have kept records. Growing up in Greece or Rome often being used sexually by older men. In Rome, boy brothels were common and there was rent- a- boy service in Athens. The abuse involved not only boys over 11 or 12, but also much younger children.

Girls were also involved as well as women. Aristotle commented that homosexuality often becomes habitual in 'those who are abused from Childhood'. There are remarkable parallels between the patterns of abuse in ancient Greece and what is being witnessed in England in the present day.

In the 18th century, sexual abuse was widespread amongst servants and others acting in parent roles. Freud also become aware of child sexual abuse, not only from his work with his adult parents in psychotherapy, but also from visits to the mortuary in Paris where he observed signs of rape in children.

In a study from the USA, Stanton et al. investigated the prevalence of problem behaviors in two samples of African -American children aged 10-14 and 945, respectively. The children lived in deprived urban areas. About 40% reported more positive feelings about sex than about other behaviors, particularly with increasing age. Furthermore, correlation between sexual experiences and other problem behaviors were low, while there were stronger correlations between behaviors not associated with sex, such as smoking cigarettes and using marijuana, using cocaine and other illicit drugs, being truant from school and being suspended, delivering drugs and selling drugs.

In typically Western culture, however, early sexual intercourse is regarded as a genuine problem behavior and as a risk factor for other problems such as substance abuse and delinquency. The conceptualization of early sexual intercourse as a problem behavior may thus be well justified in one culture but perhaps not in another (Santon, et al l993).

Essential characteristics of child sexual abuse  Children in general do not like it.  Sexual gratification of the abuser is the usual aim of the abuse.  There is a power/ age differential which effectively removes meaningful consent.  The activity is usually secretive, collusive and perpetuated by the more powerful person.

The rate of sexual abuse estimated by the American Association for protecting children, went from 1.4 per 10,000 to 17 per 10,000 children between 1976 and 1984. In a children's hospital, the number of total assessments of sexual abuse increased by a factor of 4 between 1981 and 1991, Of 838,232 cases of child abuse reported to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System in'1991, 15% were of sexual abuse. Survey of adult women indicate that from 12-38% were sexual abused by 18yrs of age. The results of one study indicated that the likelihood of extra familial and interfamilial sexual abuse being reported was only 8% and 2% respectively. The incidence of sexual .,abuse of males ranges from 3-9% of the population; males constitute up to 20% of reports. Because fixed pedophiles shows a predilection for boys, it is theorized that the number of males who are sexually abused is higher. Furthermore, boys may refrain from reporting what might be interpreted as a homosexual action. In addition, in a society that expects males to be able to protect themselves from assault, boys may feel guilty if they are victimized.5 Approximately one third of sexual abuse victims are younger than 6 yr of age, one third are 6-12 yr of age, and one third are 12-18 yr of age. Females are more often perpetrators in child-care setting, including babysitting. The number of female perpetrators may be higher because younger children may confuse sexual abuse by a female with normal hygiene care and adolescent males may not be trained to recognized sexual activity with an older female as a form of abuse. Sexual abuse by stepfather is nearly 5 times higher than among natural fathers. (Source— Keelson Pediatric Text Book of chapter 37,38).

Emotional abuse Though emotional abuse is accepted category in the registration of children who have been abused it is probably the most complex form of abuse in term of definition, recognition, management and registration.

As Garbarino, et al so aptly stated, 'Rather than casting psychological maltreatment as an ancillary issue, subordinate to other forms of abuse and neglected, we should place it as the centerpiece of efforts to understand family function and to protect children.'8 ; The working group of the recent document ‘Working Together’ and of the Children Act 1989 defines emotional abuse as 'actual or likely severe adverse effects on the emotional and behavioral development of the child caused by persistent or severe emotional ill-treatment or rejection.

All abuse involves some emotional abuse' (Working Together-1991).15

Lourie and Stefano defined emotional maltreatment as 'an injury to the intellectual or psychological capacity of the child, as evidence by an observable and substantial impairment in his or her ability to function within his or her normal range of performance and behavior with due regard to his or her culture' (Lourie and Stefano-1978).

2.2 Bangladesh studies Bangladesh is the twenty-second country to have ratified the UN Convention on Child Right.

Bangladesh recognized the magnitude and importance of survival, development, protection and participation of the children. Anyone below 18 years of age is considered a child by the Convention. The Convention also demands the cessation of all kinds of child labor. As a result of ratifying the Convention, the economical situation of Bangladesh has not changed overnight.

Children's Rights Clusters Rights contained in the Convention categorized under appropriate; clusters Survival Right to life, health and medical care, adequate nutritious food Development Right to education, standard of living adequate for child's development, leisure and cultural activities.

Protection Right to protection from abuse and neglect, protection for refugee children, protection for children without families.

Participation Right to have views taken into account, freedom of expression,*freedom of association.

Mobilization Implementation of rights, awareness of Convention, reporting on implementation.

Specific trends of abuse: Child abuse is not confined to any specific zone. Home, workplace, street, prisons everywhere children become easy prey of abuse. However, children are more prone to political abuse in urban areas especially in metropolitan cities. It appears from the analysis of the reported cases that destitute or underprivileged children belonged to poor families or children who are abandoned or street children are the most affected group by all sorts of abuse.

According to A.H. Monjurul Kabir, age is a major issue in assessing vulnerabilities. It appears that no age is safe age. Children are always vulnerable. The age group of 10-14 years came across as the period during which the hightest number of abuses occurs. Both boys and girls become the frequent victims of domestic and institutional abuse. Girls are more vulnerable than boy's. Girl children have to face abuse twice. First the child is sexually abused. Next she is abused by society through its customs, practices, censures and ostracization. Adolescent girls are most susceptible to and fall pre to declarations of love.

Boys are more prone to political abuse.10 The abuse against children mostly occurs in the poor income group. These children are forced to leave home and go to places that might provide food, shelter and work. As these children enter the labour force, their soft and developing bodies, their innocent minds and their young age expose them to horrifying situations against which they can hardly protect themselves (A.H.Monjurul Kabir-1999).

Domestic abuse

The activities performed by the child domestics, as Rahman put it, are varied and not welldefined. Their relationships with the employers ranged from extreme servitude to becoming an integral member of the family. The child domestics' perceptions were mainly characterized by confusion, fear and uncertainty. They perceived their employers as having total power and control over their lives. The girl domestics for the sake of survival and as a coping strategy usually trusted the employers as the persons who might well arrange their marriages in future.

He added that the job of a child domestic is a means of financial contribution to its parental family, but only at the cost of numerous abuses. They are often the recipients of all forms of verbal abuse and sometimes physical abuse at the slightest pretext. In most intra-family feuds, the child domestics are used as the centre of discord when they undergo both verbal and physical abuse from the family members. They are often under threat of dismissal.

A relatively wide range of activities stretching from early morning till late hour at night were identified by him to be a child domestic's usual chores. These activities include sweeping, washing clothes, dusting, floor polishing, cooking, grinding spices and others. They are always on call from all the family members to do all types of errands like fetching a glass of water, polishing shoes, peeling vegetables, looking after children, earring hot water for bathing, etc. ass these are isolated activities, they are never seen as real work. In brief, they are expected to be on their toes and never to feel tired (Rahman-1992).

Abuse at workplace In Bangladesh, the dramatic increase of adolescent girls employed in the garment industry, is found along with the employment of adolescent boys in the informal sectors such as transportation (as helper in buses, auto rickshaws, vans) small scale units etc. leading to exploitation in wages, vulnerability in maintaining jobs, coupled with unspecified working conditions. Children over here and adolescents are the primary victims of sexual abuse (Kabir- 1 999).10 Abuse at safe custody Young boys and girls taken into protective custody by police inn this country are among those most vulnerable to rape and sexual abuse. Contrary to the provision of the Children Act, thousands of children are rounded up, often without any cause and kept in adult prisons with no recourse to legal protection. The most traumatic experience for children is the way they are routinely abused in protective custody of police in the Thana or prison where they are supposed to be safe. Rape can be classified as one of the most heinous crimes committed against the body and mind of the child regardless her age. Unfortunately such a crime has escalated in number in the last 1998, there were 961 reported cases of rape. In 1997, 733 cases were recorded. The age group most violated is 6 to 11 years. In 1998 along 187 female children of this group were raped.

Two very shattering form of abuse occurring perhaps only in Bangladesh are acid throwing and political /hartal abuse. Acid throwing, causing disfiguration or death to a person, has become a common form of abuse against girl children in both rural and urban areas, especially in low-income group.

Political / hartal abuse has recently emerged as another form of brutality. Street children, known as "Tokais" are frequently used by political parties for doing pro-hartal activities.

These expose them to police brutality, being blown away by bombs, getting killed by bullets, or dying because of brick throwing (i.bid-1999).

Rape and sexual abuse

Sexual abuse is defined as rape and incest and associated offences occurring at household and society level. The problems faced by children do not begin nor end with the odd rape or regular molestation. Nearly all hospitals report intake of sexually abused children. The child development Centre of the Dhaka Shishu Hospital reports that 5-7% of patients to be sexually abused. According to Aasha reports that there are about four types of sexual abuse: -Caressing -Fondling and kissing -Genital manipulation -Full penetrative sex.

No age is safe One of the study claims that no age is a safe age. Children as young as 5 or 6 years have been abused. Unofficial sources reveal that even small babies as young as six months have been raped. Children under 10 years are routinely abused. The most vulnerable group, however, are girls and boys between 10 and 14 years, that is, an age of emerging sexuality. In our society children become sexually mature at a very early age and although their parents cannot recognize the sexual growth of their child, potential abusers find them physically attractive.

Girls are more vulnerable Girl's of course, are more vulnerable since they can be sexually abused even when they are adults because they arre not physically strong enough to defend themselves. Boys when they grow older can physically defend themselves and so can prevent the abuse. In the case of girl children the need to keep the crime a secret is overpowering and very often the child is victimized twice, first by the physical abuse itself and secondly by the society (sometimes even her own family) which unjustly brands her as a noshto meye (bad/rotten girl). (Amin Asha-1997)6 Child marriage The Child Marriage Restraiant Act was enacted in 1929. but till today, child marriage is a common phenomenon in rural Bangladesh. Tori and Amin, et al, reporting on the child marriage situation in rural and slum areas identifies certain social factors that has kept this wrongful act still accepted inspite of legal bindings.

These are: Marriage is seen as a security measure for girls. Young girls are often victims to sexual abuse or wrongful romantic liaisons. Thus giving them into marriage takes the responsibility off the parent's shoulders.

Girls are more liable to social stigma. If a girl stays away from social norms, she is stigmatized. Thus marriage is an easy solution to teenage problems.

Girls are a burden to family. Marrying a girl off puts the burden into the shoulder-s of a husband. This is a myth, as the dowry system burdens a family more.

The custom of “Marrying offâ€? the daughter of the house as early as possible has age old roots. Tradition and culture have given women the stereotypical role of a docile homemaker without any ambition or desires of her own (Tori et al 1998).14 A young unmarried girl's insecurity can be haunting in poverty-stricken communities. The tradition from childhood to adolescence is often the worst phase of their lives, and they are left open to exploitation and •- assaults.

The situation worsens as the girls have no right to think independently about marriage. The decision-maker are themselves shrouded by illiteracy and therefore resorts to superstitious beliefs.

Study reports of safe community: The mothers were mostly from poor socioeconomic background, more than 77% mother were housewife, 13.5% mother were service holders and 6% housemaids. The mean year of education of mothers was 5.29 years (SD+/-4.87). About half (49.5%) of the family had either 'balance income' (just could maintain family expenditure without resorting to taking loan)or 'deficit budget' 28% (family who had to take loan for subsistence at the end of the month). There was history of 'ever rebuke' (life time rebuke) in 89% and 'recent rebuke' (rebuke in last 7 days)in 71%cases by the mothers. 84% mothers gave history of 'ever beating'(physical torture in life time) and recent beating (physical tenure in last 7 days) in 60.5%cases. Fathers were found abusive to their children (either rebuke or beating)in only 43% cases. When compared with fathers, it was found that mothers were more abusive(79%) to the children than their spouses(8.5%).3 Mothers used hands in 49,5%, hands and an instruments like a cane in 31% and an instrument in 3.5%cases. The cause of parental abusive behavior were being 'naughty child' 67%; not studying 50.5%; eating problem 30.5%; disobedience 25%; and much playing!9.5%. It was observed that children of both sexes were equally vulnerable to abuses when recent history of beating was considered but male children were more at risk of beating when life time beating taken into account.

Children were more vulnerable to beating in poor families than rich families. The education of mothers had nothing to do with the increased rate of beating in children. (Sources—Safe community 9; the 9th international conference on safe communities. 26-28 Feb 2000; Institute of child & mother health; Matuail, Dhaka, Bangladesh.)

METHODOLOGY 3.1 TYPE OF STUDY This was a Descriptive type of Cross sectional study carried out among the adolescent school boys of class IX in selected schools.

3.2 PLACE OF STUDY For the study 3(three) school were selected. These were Khilgaon Govt. Staff Quarter High School, Motijheel Ideal School & College, South Banashree Model High School. All the schools are situated in the Dhaka City.

3.3 SELECTION OF THE STUDY PLACE For this study above mentioned schools were selected purposively.

3.4 STUDY PERIOD The study was conducted for a period of three months April 2008 to June 2008. Initial months were taken for selection of topic, objective setting and following for review of literature, development of research instrument and pre-testing for data collection, data analysis.

3.5 STUDY POPULATION The target population was adolescent Boys of class IX of above mentioned three schools, age group 13,14,15& 16 years. Though persons below 18 years are considered as children internationally. Again the below 10 years are not included in this study because that stage children usually can not think logically and systematically about concrete objectives, events and experience. Moreover the recall memory also improves over the cource of childhood. It is assured that, children below 8 years can not give valid and reliable information when interviewed by the researcher..

3.6 SAMPLE SIZE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUE A sample of 130 students from different sections of three schools was selected.

Purposive sampling was followed for the purpose of proper representation of various sections.

3.7 SELECTION AND DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT Keeping in mind the objectives of study, a draft questionnaire was prepared. It was structured to minimized time. All the variables were considered accordingly. The questionnaire was pre-tested out side the in sampling area and was received on the basis of experience of pre-testing and then finalized. The first portion of the questionnaire was for demographic information: containing name of school, age, religion, educational qualification, monthly family income, family member etc. The next part of the questionnaire was the knowledge about CHILD ABUSE. In designing and administering the questionnaire the following point were considered simplicity of language avoidance of painful or embaracing questions, ambiguous questions and overloading the interview schedule.

3.8 PRE-TESTING A draft questionnaire was developed according to objectives and variables of the study period to data collection. The questionnaire was pre-tested, modified and finally developed and supervision by guide.

3.9 DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURE Data was collected by direct interviewing the students of class IX of three schools.

The interview was taken by the researcher himself at the place of study. The study populations were interviewed one after another without disturbing their routine class works. The data were collected by a prepared pre-tested questionnaire of similar socio-demographic status developed by the researcher. Before filling up the schedule, the purpose and objectives of the study was explained to the respondents. Assurance was given to the respondents regarding maintenance of the confidentiality and secrecy of the information they provided.

3.10 DATA PROCESSING, ANALYSIS AND QUALITY CONTROL After data collection they were reviewed daily by the researcher himself. At the end of the completion of the data collection, the different information were first complied in the master sheet and analyzed on the basis of individual variables. The various tables were made according to the objectives. The results were calculated, tabulated and analyzing manually by using computer's SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science, Version 11.5 windows) software & scientific calculator.

4.1 Findings The study was conducted in Dhaka city among the adolescent boys of class IX, of KhiSgaon Govt. Staff Quarter High School, Motijheel Ideal School and College, and South Banasri Model High School.

Table-1 shows that the respondents of Khilgaon Govt. Staff Quarter High School were 20, in science faculty. The respondents of Motijheel Ideal School and College were 46, in science faculty, and the respondents of South Banasri Model High School were 33 in science faculty, 31 in commerce faculty.

Age Majorities of the respondents were 14* years of age group 69, almost (53.1%). The less frequency is 2(1.5%) of age group 16m.

Family Out of 130 respondents, most of the students were Muslim 123(94.6%), and were comes from nuclear family 115(88.5%). according to birth order 1 st in position were 56(43.1%) and 2nd in position were 47(36.2%). Consists of family members was 4, which is highest 36.2% and the lowest group were 9/10 in members equally 1(O.8%). On the other hand, family income on an average maximum respondents were in 10,000-19,999 Taka range group of 65(50%). The minimum income group was 5,000 Taka, 5(3.8%) respondents comes from this family.

Parents education and occupation Among the 130 respondent's father 40(30.8%) obtained master degree. 38(29.2%) had bachelor degree and 2(1.5%) were illiterate. Beside this 31(23.8%) respondent's mother had secondary school certificate and only 34(10.8%) were obtained master degree, About their parents occupation, the respondents that 74(56.9%) of their father were service holder, 41(31.5%) were business. And 109(83.8%) respondent's mother were housewife, 17(13.1%) were engaged in service.

Source of knowledge Interviewed the respondents 124 (95.3%) were gain knowledge from TV, 104(80%) from newspapers and 36(27.6%) from parents which was undesirable.

Causes of child abuse Fig-3, respondents stated that, 103(79.2%) abused were held due to poverty, 94(72.3%) due to illiterate, 79(60.7%) due to too much mental stress of parents, 46(35.3%) due to mentally imbalance guardian.

Types and Gender based Vulnerable groups In table-11,12. the respondents stated that 67(51.5%) were physically abused, 45(34.6%) were mentally abused and 18(13,8%) were sexually abused. Girls 108(83.l%)are more vulnerable than boys 20(15.4%) about 5.5 times more than boys.

Abusive persons Table-13, respondents refers to the teachers are most abusive to their students 79(60.7%).

Nearest relatives were abusive'57(43.8%), father 45(34.6%) and mother 42(32.3%) abused their children, children also abused by servants almost 30(23%).

Bad effect of child The respondents seems that after abuse child may developed psychiatric problem said 122 students, head injury and memory loss said 116 students, broken limbs of chiid said 100 students, may be addicted 85 students said, become motherhood in early age said 53 respondents.

Category of abuse in home The respondents stated that stopping food is one of the serious category of abuse 118(90.7%) were in this opinion, forbid to go out 66 respondents opined, 61 respondents opined slap& scold also a form of abuse. Most of 114(87.7%) were in this opinion, pulling by ear 101 respondents the respondents 114(87.7%) were victimed as slap in home environment.

Category of abuse in school The respondents stated that whipping is one of the serious category of abuse opined, 73 respondents opined stand up on beanch also a form of abuse. Most of the respondents 98(75.4%) were victimed as slap and 96(73.8%) were victimed as canning in school environment by their teachers.

Abuse patterns & severity According to the respondents statement Serious abuse is "Cigarette burning" said 123(94.6%) respondents, "Compel to sexual activity" said 112(86.2%) respondents, "Compel to view sex picture" said 80(61.5%) respondents, "Captivate in room" said 57(43.8%) respondents and "Canning" said 55(42.3%) respondents. Moderate abuse is "canning" said 70(53.8%) respondents, "Captivate in room" said 44(33.8%) respondents, "Compel to study long against desire" said 42(32.3%) respondents and "Scolding" said 38(29.2%)respondents.

"Slapping" is Not abuse said 5(3.8%).

Part-I: Socio- economic and Demographic situation 4.1 School and section-wise distribution of the students The study was conducted among 130 adolescent boy students of class IX of three selected high schools of Dhaka city namely Khilgaon Govt. Staff Quarter High School, Motijheel Ideal School and College ... and South Banasri Model High School,..... . Out of these 130 students, 20 belong to Khilgaon Govt Staff Quarter High School, 46 belong to Motijheel Ideal School and College, and 33 belong to South Banasri Model High School. All were in Science section except 31 students, Who were in Commerce section.

Table 1 Distribution of the respondents by school and section of study Name of school

Section Science

Total Commerce

Khilgaon Govt. Staff Quarter High School

20

0

20

Motijheel Ideal School and College

46

0

46

South Banasri Model High School

33

31

64

Total

99

31

130

4.2 Age Table-2 shows distribution of the students by age. Age ranged between 13 years and 16 years.

The average age was 13.9 years with SD of about one year. The median and modal age was 14 years. ; Table 2 Distribution of the respondents by age Age(yrs) Frequency Percent 13

36

27.7

14

69

53.1

15

23

17.7

16

2

1.5

Total

130

100.0

Mean 13.9 Âą 0.7 yrs , Median 14 yrs., Mode 14 yrs. Range 13-16 yrs 4.3 Religion Table 3 shows Distribution of the respondents by religion. Oat of 130 respondents, 123(94.6%) belonged to Islam. Hinduism was followed by 7(5.4%), Table 3 Distribution of the respondents by Religion Religion Frequency

Percent

Islam

123

94.6

Hinduism

7

5.4

Total

130

100.0

4.4 Parents' Education: Table-4, shows educational level of parents.

About 1.5% fathers and 4.6% mothers were illiterate. Most of the mothers 61(47%) had studied upto secondary level including SSC. Twenty percent (n=27) had HSC level of education while 15.4% (n=20) were graduate and Masters degree bolder was near about 11%.

The corresponding levels for fathers were 17% (n =22) upto SSC level, 20% (n=26) Upto HSC level and 29% (n=38) had Graduate and 31%(n=40) had Masters degree level.

Table 4 Distribution by Fathers' and Mothers' education Education

Frequency

Percent

Illiterate

2

1.5

Primary

2

1.5

a) Fathers' education

Secondary

4

3.1

SSC

18

13.8

HSC

26

20.0

Graduate

38

29.2

Master's

40

30.8

Total

130

100.0

Illiterate

6

4.6

Primary

2

1.5

Secondary

30

23.1

SSC

31

23.8

HSC

27

20.8

Graduate

20

15.4

Master's

14

10.8

Total

130

100.0

b) Mothers' education

4.5 Parents' occupation Table 4 shows parent's occupation of the respondents. 'Service' and 'Business were the roost prominent occupation categories of the fathers. These two categories together covered over 88% of the fathers. Most of the mothers were housewives (n = 109, 84%). About 13% (n=17) were service holders.

Fig. 1 Pie chart showing the Distribution of the respondents by Father's Occupation

Fig. 2 Pie chart showing the Distribution of the respondents by Mother's Occupation 4.6 Family income Table 5 shows distribution of family income. Family income range between as low as Tk.3,000 to as high as Tk. 100,000. Most of the respondents (n=65, 50%) stated that their family income was upto Tk. 19,999. The next income group was Tk.20,001-29,999. The Median income was Tk.14,000, and mean income Tk.16,200 with SD of Tk.11,100.

Table 5 Distribution of the respondent by their Family income Income Group (Taka) Frequency Percent < 5,000

5

3.8

5,000 - 9,999

18

13.8

10,000 - 19,999

65

50.0

20,000 -29,999

31

23.8

30,000 - 39,999

8

6.2

>50,000

3

2.3

Total

130

100.0

Mean = Tk.16,200 Âą11,100; Median =Tk. 14,000; Mode =Tk. 10,000 Range Tk. 3,000-100,000 .

4.7 Family size Table 6 shows family size of the respondents. Family size ranged between 1 - 12. Highest number of respondents 47(36.2%) reported of 4 member family. Mean Family size was 5 members with SD of 1.6. Modal family size was also five.

Table 6 Distribution of the respondents by their family size Family size Frequency Percent 3

9

6.9

4

47

36.2

5

40

30.8

6

21

16.2

7

7

5.4

8

2

1.5

9

1

.8

10

1

.8

12

2

1.5

Total

130

100.0

Mean 5 Âą1.6; Median = 5; Mode = 4; Range 1-12 Birth order The boys mostly ranked first or second in birth order. A total of 56(43%) had first order birth and 47 (36.2%) had second order birth.

Table 7 Distribution of the respondents by their Birth Order Birth Order Frequency Percent 1

56

43.1

2

47

36.2

3

13

10.0

4

11

8.5

5

2

1.5

7

1

0.8

Total

130

100.0

4.9 Type of family Eighty eight percent (n=115) of the respondents belonged to single family. Fifteen respondents (12%) came from joint family.

Table 8 Distribution of the respondents by Type of family Type of family Frequency Percent Joint family

15

11.5

Single family

115

88.5

Total

130

100.0

Part-II: Child abuse 4.10 Whether heard about child abuse and source of information All the respondents heard about child abase. Table 9 shows that out of 130 respondents, 124(95%) had heard about child abuse from television. Other common sources were News paper 104(80%) and parents 36(27%) . (Respondents give multiple answer).

Table 9 Distribution of the respondents by Source of information about child abuse n=130 Source of knowledge Frequency Percent Radio

34

26.1

TV

124

95.3

Newspaper

104

80.0

Book

37

28.4

Friend

14

10.7

Parents

36

27.6

Others

6

4.6

4.11 (a) Abuse - its type and severity Child abuse was categorised in three major categories namely, a. physical b. emotional, and c. sexual Again, these categories had three items each viz. "slapping, caning & cigarette burning" belonging to physical abuse category; "lock up in room, compel to study longer & scolding falling in emotional group; "forcible de-clothing, compel to sexual activity & viewing of pornographic pictures falling in sexual abuse group.

Respondents' views were sought on seriousness of each item on a five point scale - 'Serious', 'Moderate', 'Mild', 'Not abuse' and 'Don't Know'. Quantitative scores were attached to each category. See details of scoring and score grouping under definition/operational definition at chapter-1 page-10.

Among the three major groups, sexual abuse as a whole scored high in terms of severity as an abuse. As much as 63% rated sexual abuse as serious against 50% in physical abuse category and 21% in emotional abuse category.

Among individual categories again 'compelling to sexual activityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as well as 'compelling to view porno pictures' rated high - 86% and 62% respectively. However 'burning with cigarette' belonging to physical abuse group' ranked topmost with 95% scoring it as serious.

See table 10 for further details.

Table 10 Distribution of respondents by type and severity of child abuse Type of abuse Serious Mode Mild Not Don't No

Total

Psychological Abuse

Physical Abuse

-rate Slapping n %

20 15.4 30 23.1

75 57.7 5 3.8

-

-

130 100.0

caning n %

55 42.3 70 53.8

4 3.1

1 0.8

-

130 100.0

Cigarette Burning n %

123 94.6

2 1.5

2 1.5

-

130 100,0

Captivate in room n %

57 43.8 44 33.8

17 13.1 3 2.3

8 6.2

1 .8

130 100.0

48 36.9 19 14.6

7 5.4

4 3.1

130 100.0

35 26.9 38 29.2 2 1.5

2 1.5

130 100.0

Forcible de-clothing n % 54 41,5 16 12.3

22 16.9 4 3.1

17 13.1

17 13.1

130 100.0

Compel to activity n %

1 0.8

-

-

8 6.2

9 6.9

130 100.0

Compel to view sex 80 61.5 28 picture n % 21.5

-

3 2.3

8 6.2

11 8.5 130 100.0

Compel to study long 10 7.7 against desire n %

Scolding n %

Sexual Abuse

abuse know reply

3 2.3

42 32.3

15 11.5 38 29.2

sexual 112 86.2

4.12 Causes of child abuse Out of 130 boys, 103 (79%) mentioned "poverty" as the cause of child abuse.

"Illiterate" was identified by 94(72%), and "too much mental stress" by 79 (61%) (Table 11).

Fig.3 Bar diagram showing the Distribution of the respondents by Causes of child abuse 4.13 Child abuse - its Sex differential Out of 130 boys 108(83%) said that girls were more abused than boys. However, 2(1.5%) reported of their ignorance as to who - boy or girl - was more abused (Table 12).

Table 11 Distribution of the respondents by boy or girl who is more abused Who is more abused Frequency Percent Boy

20

15.4

Girl

108

83.1

Don't know

2

1.5

Total

130

100.0

4.14 State of prevalence In reply to the type of abuse they consider more prevalent in our country the majority of the boys - 51% (n=67) stated in favour of physical abuse. A total of 45 respondents (34%) stated in favour of emotional and 18(14%) in favour of sexual abuse.(Table -12).

Table 12 Distribution of the respondents by which type of abuse more prevalent in our country

Type of abuse more prevalent

Frequency

Percent

Physical

67

51.5

Mental

45

34.6

Sexual

8

13.8

Total

130

100.0

4.15 Abusive persons Table 13 shows that most of the respondents i.e. 79 out of 130 (61%) identified teacher as abusers. The next category was nearest relative (44%), followed by father (34%), mother (32%)and servant (23%). Brother and sister were mentioned by a comparatively lower number of respondents-27(21%).

Tablel3 Distribution of respondents as to by whom children are abused n=130 By whom abused more Frequency Percent Father

45

34.6

Mother

42

32.3

Brothers & sisters

27

20.7

Teacher

79

60.7

Nearest relative

57

43.8

servant

30

23.0

Others

41

31.5

4.16 Nature of abuse by parents "Stopping food" and "Forbid to go out" appear to be the type of abuse practiced by parents.

Out of 130 boys 90.7% (n=118) and 50.8% (n=66) respectively mentioned as such (fig. 3).

In response to whether respondents themselves had experienced parental abuse, 114 (87.7%) stated of having had a slap. Experience of scolding was mentioned by about 61.5% (n=80) (table 14 ).

Fig. 4 Bar Diagram showing the Distribution of the respondents as to Abuse by parents Table 14 Distribution of the respondents whether he was victimed of parental abuse

n=130 Whether you were victim

Frequency

Percent

Slap

114

87.7

Scold

80

61.5

Stop food

20

15.4

Forbid to go out

40

30.8

Phone not allowed

35

26.9

Others

14

10.8

4.17 Abuse at school Table 15 shows that the respondents quite commonly mentioned about all the five items of abuse included in our list namely 'slapping', 'scolding', 'caning', 'Pull by the ear' and 'stand up on bench'. However, caning topped the list with 114 out of 130 i.e. 87.7% respondents stating in favour of caning followed by 'pulling by ear' and'scolding' reported by 101 (77%) and 68 (52%) respectively. About 74% (n=96), 59% (n=77) and 44% (n=58) reported to have experienced such abuses at school (Table 16).

Table 15 Distribution of the respondents by Nature of abuse at school n=130 Type of abuse Frequency Percent Slap

84

64.6

Scold

68

52.3

114

87.7

Pulling by ear

101

77.7

Stand up on bench

73

56.2

Others

32

24.6

*Multiple response Table 16 Distribution of the respondents whether he was victimed of abuse at school n=130 Type of abuse Frequency Percent Slap

98

75.4

Scold

58

44.6

Caning

96

73.8

Pulling by ear

77

59.2

Stand up on bench

82

63.1

Others

20

15.4

*Multiple response 4.18 Bad effect of child abuse Table 17 shows that around 90% of the respondents mentioned of various ill effects of child abuse. "Getting psychiatric" and "memory loss due to head injury" were reported by more than 90% respondents. Drug addiction and crippling were also mentioned by nearly 70% of them.

Table 17 Distribution of 'Respondents' opinion about the bad effect of child abuse Bad effect of child abuse Frequency Percent Broken limb

100

76.9

Head injury & memory loss

116

89.2

Psychiatric Problem

122

93.8

Addiction

85

65.3

Early motherhood

53

40.7

Others

07

5.3

*Multiple response 4.19 Knowledge and perception of the boys about child abuse Quantitative measurement Perception was measured by the question No,17. Question No. 18, 22, 23 and 24 were used to measure knowledge. The responses were scored and graded. Details of these have been provided in the section dealing with definition/operational definition. See page...

Tables 18 and 19 show distribution of the respondents by scores and grades in respect of knowledge and perception. The scores on knowledge ranged between 5-17 with mean score of 12.2 and SD of 2.4. Only about 8% had high score while 24% scored poor marks.

Perception scores ranged between 14-35 with mean and SD of 26.1 Âą 4.8 marks. Perception score of 'poor' grade was observed in 28% respondents and that of 'good' grade in 13% respondents.

Table 18 Distribution of respondents by their level of knowledge Level of knowledge Frequency Percent 7-10

31

23.8

11-15

89

68.5

16 or more

10

7.7

Total

130

100.0

Table 19 Distribution of respondents by their level of Perception Level of perception

Frequency

Percent

Below 25

36

27.7

25-30

77

59.2

Above 30

17

13.1

Total

130

100.0

Table 20 Descriptive measures of knowledge and perception Measure

Perception score

knowledge score

Mean

26.1

12.2

Median

27.0

12.00

Mode

29

11

Std. Deviation

4.8

2.4

Minimum

12

7

Maximum

35

17

CV

18.4%

19.6%

4.20 Relationship between Knowledge and perception Relationship between Knowledge score and Perception score v examined by correlation analysis and a positive correlation was observi Fig.4 shows the bar diagram of Knowledge and perception scores.

Fig. 5 Multiple bar Diagram showing the Level of knowledge and perception of the respondents 4.21 Other Correlates of Knowledge and perception Chi Sq tests were done separately for perception and knowledge with factors such as fathers' education, mothers' education, type of family, type of abuse, sex differential of abuse and association with school and section. See Tables 23-32. Significant relationship of knowledge with school and sex differential was observed (p<0.05). See tables 26,29, and All other results were non significant (p>0.05).

Table 21 Distribution of the respondents by Knowledge grade Knowledge score Frequency Percent Poor (7- 12)

73

56.2

Good (> 13 )

57

43.8

Total

130

100.0

Table 22 Distribution of the respondents by Perception score Perception score Frequency Percent Poor (below 27)

58

44.6

Good (27 or more)

72

55.4

Total

130

100.0

Table 23 Distribution of the respondents by Association between level of perception and type of family level of Perception Type of family Total Joint Single Poor 7(46.7%) 51(443%) 58(44.6%) Good

8(53.3%)

64(55.7%)

72(55.4%)

Total

15(100.0%)

115(100.0%)

13t)(100.0%)

X2 -0.029 df=l

p=O.S65

Table 24 Distribution of the respondents by Perception and Sex differential of abuse level of Boy or girl who is more abused Perception Boy

Girl

Don't know

Total

Poor

5(25.0%)

53(49.1%)

0(.0%)

58(44.6%)

Good

15(75.0%)

55(50.9%)

2(100.0%)

72(55.4%)

Total

20(100.0%)

108(100.0%)

2(100.0%)

130(100.0%)

X2 p=0.061 Table 25 Distribution of the respondents by Perception and type of abuse level of Common type of abuse Total Perception Physical emotional Sexual Poor

24(35.8%)

19(42.2%)

15(83.3%)

58(44.6%)

Good

43(64.2%)

26(57.8%)

3(16.7%)

72(55.4%)

Total

67(100.0%)

45(100.0%)

18(100.0%)

130(100.0%)

X2 =13.121 dÂŁ=2 p=0.001 Table 26 Distribution of the respondents by Association of Level of knowledge with school Knowledge grade

School name

Total

Khitgaon

Ideal

South Banasri

Poor

16(80.0%)

26(56.5%)

31(48.4%)

73(56.2%)

Good

4(20.0%)

20(43.5%)

33(51.6%)

57(43.8%)

Total

20(100.0%)

46(100.0%)

64(100.0%)

130(100.0%)

X2-6.169 df=2 p=0.046 Table 27 Distribution of the respondents by Association of Level of knowledge with group Science or commerce Knowledge grade Section Total Science

Commerce

Poor

57(57.6%)

16(51.6%)

73(56.2%)

Good

42(42.4%)

15(48.4%)

57(43.8%)

Total

99(100.0%)

31(100.0%)

130(100.0%)

X2-341

dM p=0.559

Table 28 Distribution of the respondents by Association of Level of knowledge with type of family Knowledge grade Types of family Total Joint family

Single family

Poor

7(46.7%)

66(57.4%)

73(56.2%)

Good

8(53.3%)

49(42.6%)

57(43.8%)

Total

15(100.0%)

115(100.0%)

13U(100.0%)

X2-.620 df=l p=0.431 Table 29 Distribution of the respondents by Level of knowledge and sex j differential Knowledge grade Boy or girl who is more abused Total

Boy

Girl

Poor

15

58

73(57.0%)

Good

5

50

55(43.0%)

Total

20(15.6%)

108(84.4%)

128(100.0%)

X2=5.710

df=2

p=0.058

Table 30 Distribution of the respondents by Level of knowledge and common type of abuse in our country

Knowledge grade

Common ty

pe of abuse in our country

Physical

Mental

Sexual

Poor

34(50.7%)

29(64.4%)

10(55.6%)

73(56.2%)

Good

33(49.3%)

16(35.6%)

8(44.4%)

57(43.8%)

Total

67(100.0%)

45(100.0%)

18(100.0%)

130(100.0%)

X2=61.637

df=48

Total

p-0.089

Table 31 Distribution of the respondents by Level of perception and father education Level of Father education Total perception Upto SSC HSC& Masters Graduate Poor

14(58.3%)

29(45.3%)

13(32.5%)

56(43.8%)

Good

10(41.7%)

35(54.7%)

27(67.5%)

72(56.3%)

Total

24(100.0%)

64(100.0%)

40(100.0%)

128(100.0%)

X2=4.195 df=2 p=0.123 Table 32 Distribution of the respondents by Level of perception and mother education Level of Revised mother education Total perception Upto SSC HSC& Masters Graduate Below 27

31(49.2%)

18(38.3%)

4(28.6%)

53(42.7%)

27 or more

32(50.8%)

29(61.7%)

10(71.4%)

71(57.3%)

Total

63(100.0%)

47(100.0%)

14(100.0%)

124(100.0%)

2

X = 2.604

df=2

p=0.272

4.22 Opinion of the respondents regarding prevention of child abuse Opinion of the respondents were sought as to how to prevent child abuse. Their responses are shown in Table 32. Prominent opinions are: (a) To increase peoples' awareness, (b) enforcement of law (c) to increase general level of education of the people and (d)to propagation through mass media.

Table 33.Distribution of 'Respondents* opinion on prevention of child abuse. n=130

Respondents Opinion to prevent child abuse

Frequency

Percent

Increase mass awareness

45

34.6

Increase literacy rate of the people

16

12.3

Enforcement of the laws to prevent child abuse

41

31.5

Propagation through mass media

14

10.7

Sympathy to children by all

22

16.9

Abolition of child labour

5

3.8

Multiple response DISCUSSION Child abuse is one of the important problems that need to be addressed well enough so that this issue will not lie in the darkness of social reforms or activist.

Reports are trying to being this issue to public, among the different social groups. Stories of child abuse are now coming almost every day which portraits the sad happening that is bestowed upon the children of any age irrespective of sex.

But methodical researches are very rare in Bangladesh. This study tried to look into this issue as closely as possible and projects the findings to add more information to the body of existing knowledge.

Child abuse has been recognized for a very long time both at home and abroad. What is new in the recent willingness to address its existence to look for ways of preventing its occurrence?

Childhood is a vulnerable time and the child's period of growth may have Irreversible consequences if they are abused their physically, verbally, emotionally and sexually. Child abuse has a very deleterious effect on child's mind.

A total number of 130 Adolescent boys, between the ages 13 to 16 years, were interviewed at three schools of Dhaka city, Among the 130 students all were in class IX, 99 respondents were in Science faculty and another 31 respondents were in Commerce faculty.

In this study As a physical abuse, Cigarette burning seemed to be serious to many respondents (94.6%) and Canning also seemed to be serious by (42.3%) respondents. As an emotional abuse, captivate in room seemed to be serious to 43.8% respondents. And as a sexual abuse, Compel to sexual activity seemed to be serious by 86.2% respondents and also Compel to view sex picture seemed to be serious by 61.5% respondents.

In a study Singapore, et al John M. Elliott, Dec. 1996, found that more severe behaviours in the physical abuse group- burning a child and tying a child up. 90% respondents seemed to be serious as perform to sexual activities to a child. And emotional abuse was not judged as severely as other type of abuse.18 This study was similar to this study.

Comparison with my study, some forms of physical abuse like burning the child were considered very serious. It would seem that my study may be similar to the Americans in some ways and to the Indians in others. On the other hand, other forms were not considered serious, like canning. Physical abuse was generally considered by the American studies to be quite serious, though not as serious as sexual abuse. (O Toole)25 Sex differences in child abuse had also been anticipated. In this study, majority respondents 83% suggest that girls are abused most, But et al Kean and' Dukes, shows that females had been expected to rate behaviours suggestive of abuse more seriously than males. Females had been found to be more critical than males of behaviors depicted in abusive parent-child interaction.(Kean 1991)22 Demographic differences among respondents did not profoundly affect their perceptions of child abuse. The analysis revealed that age, sex, family income, parents education did not seem to have any influence on ratings of child abuse. Tong Chee Kiong had found the same result in his study.18 Regarding this Giovannoni and Becerra found that, the lower the educational and income level of their respondents in their sample of a Los Angeles community, the higher their seriousness rating of vignetters with the potential to be considered child abuse. This encouraged the prediction that socioeconomic level and abuse ratings would be negatively correlated. However, it was thought that more highly educated Singaporeans were likely to be more Westernized and judge child abuse & neglect more harshly. This encouraged the expectation of a positive correlation between socioeconomic level and abuse ratings.19 Regarding the opinion from the respondents, the most perpetrators in Bangladesh was teachers 60.7% But in the Singaporean papers, most of the perpetrators were parents or parent substitutes of the victims. Many of the perpetrators were mothers.

In Malaysia, perpetrators of physical abuse also tended to be parents. However, unlike Singapore, the offenders did not tend to be mothers. Nathan and Woon observed equal numbers of fathers and mothers among the offenders.24 Shafie and Cheah noted that there were more fathers.21 With regards to sexual abuse, Kassim noted that perpetrators were predominantly male.20 Among the Chinese and Malays, fathers were more commonly the perpetrator and among the Indians, the perpetrators tended to be other male relatives.

In Hong Kong, perpetrators tended to be natural mothers. According to Lui natural mothers made up 60% of the abusers. while the remaining 40% were natural fathers, step-parents, grandparents, relatives, child minders and teachers.

In America, the majority of perpetrators of physical abuse and psychological abuse were parents, but other relatives formed almost a quarter of the perpetrators of sexual abuse.16 6.1 Conclusion This study as well as other studies of home and abroad show that child abuse remains a constant threat to the world today. Every where from developed countries to developing countries children escaped from freedom with marked impairment in their personality development.

We had anticipated that respondents would have a strong need to respond in a social desirable manner as child abuse and neglect was a sensitive subject.

The study was carried out to assess the level of knowledge and perception about child abuse among the adolescent boys of three selected school in Dhaka City. The good knowledge and perception on child abuse among them was not adequate. The study showed that among the respondents only(8%) had good knowledge and (13%) had good perception on child abuse.

Abuse within family and in acknowledged institutions is the most unvoiced concern within our society. Yet, such children are both at risk of grave emotional and personality disorders as adults, and also develops a range of psychological and physical problems during their growing years. As a conclusion, if the government specially emphasizes lay down on increase educational level and also employment opportunity, empowerment and upholding the parents status and mass awareness within the media may overcome the problems.

6.2 Recommendation It is evidence that child abuse is a very complex problem. Children have a right to childhood, to health and learning, to play and relaxation. And we adults have an obligation to see to it that these rights are respected-not because it is the humane and moral thing to be, but because our collective future depends on it.

In this study, it was found that the knowledge and perception on child abuse among the respondents was not adequate. Therefore, they should be educated and aware on child abuse.

In light of these findings, the following recommendation is made.

1. Propagation through mass media about child abuse.

2. Ensure strict enforcement of laws to prevent child abuse.

3. The education and-literacy rate should be increased.

4. Abolition of child labour.

5. Mass awareness of the people on child abuse.

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