Abstract
The objectives of this mixed method study were to investigate the incidence, patterns and risk factors related to abused and neglected children aged 0-18 years in the
catchment area of Nam Phong Hospital, Nam Phong district, Khon Kaen Province. Of the
13 villages, in the area, four were randomly selected. Five hundred and thirty-one children participated. Data were collected during the period from September 1, 2005 to June
30, 2007 by well-trained research assistants, using questionnaires for children and parents or child- caregivers. They were living in the village in order to conduct surveillance
and report the incidence of abuse and neglect as well as risk behaviors. In that connection, the identified cases, parents or child-caregivers, neighbors and village leaders were
interviewed indepth and observed by the researchers. Quantitative data were described
as percentages and means. Content analysis was employed for analyzing the qualitative
data.
The results showed that abused and neglected children amounted to 30.3 percent of
the total. The majority were physically abused (42.2%) followed by those mentally abused
(41.6 %). It was reported that 12.5 percent were neglected and 3.7 percent sexually abused.
Children were subjected mainly to multi-forms of abuse (57.1 percent). In all, 44.7 percent of the cases of abuse were found in children aged 5-12-years. Regarding the risk
behaviors, 32.7 percent were gambling and illicit drug use; followed by irregularities in
emotion, function and expression, 26.4 percent; social interaction, 21.5 percent; and sexuality, 19.6 percent. The risk factors and condition of the parents related to child abuse and
neglect included the following: 1) drinking and gambling, 2) middle and low economic
status, and 3) poor family relationships (with domestic violence) in addition to parents
sparing only limited time for their children. Risk factors related directly to the children
were overindulgence in social life compared with other responsibilities.
