Cultural Perceptions of Child Abuse in Terms of Parents Perspective a Qualitative Study in Indonesia
Abstract Background Child abuse (CA) is a serious problem and difficult to detect. According to World Health Organization (WHO), CA is responsible on 950,000 deaths in children aged below 18 every year. As many cultures as various of CA among parents inside. This research aims to determine the cultural perceptions of child abuse in terms of parents in Indonesia. Method A qualitative study using focus group discussions was conducted to thirty one parents that selected purposively. The discussion centered about CA definition, classification, and frequency, level of CA (mild, moderate, and severe), the difference between violence and discipline. The focus group discussions divided in to 3 groups level education, Elementary/Junior high school, senior high school, and bachelor’s degree. The process offocus group discussion were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using manifest qualitative content analysis. Results Every cultures in Indonesia perceived that CA is a form of parents’ emotion which lead to injure children physically and mentally. Indonesian cultures were not familiar with neglect and exploitation. Participants’ opinion regarding level of violence can be categorized as severe if leaving wounds, need to be hospitalized, and visumed. The parents assumed as CA if occurred more than twice and/or leaving marks. The discipline’s ussualy purpose is not to mistreat, but for goods, character building, and educating the children. Conclusions Cultural perceptions of parents about CA is a form of parents’ emotion which lead to injure children physically and mentally. The community and health workers should be aware to decrease morbidity and mortality of CA