The burden of child maltreatment in the East Asia and Pacific region

Xiangming Fang, Deborah Fry, Derek Brown, James Mercy, Michael Dunne, Alexander Butchart, Phaedra Corso, Kateryna Maynzyuk, Yuriy Dzhygyr, Amalee McCoy, Diane Swales

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study estimated the health and economic burden of child maltreatment in the East Asia and Pacific region, addressing a significant gap in the current evidence base. System- atic reviews and meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the prevalence of child physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, and witnessing parental violence. Population Attributable Fractions were calculated and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) lost from physical and mental health outcomes and health risk behaviors attributable to child mal- treatment were estimated using the most recent comparable Global Burden of Disease data. DALY losses were converted into monetary value by assuming that one DALY is equal to the sub-region’s per capita GDP. The estimated economic value of DALYs lost to violence against children as a percentage of GDP ranged from 1.24% to 3.46% across sub-regions defined by the World Health Organization. The estimated economic value of DALYs (in constant 2000 US$) lost to child maltreatment in the EAP region totaled US $151 billion, accounting for 1.88% of the region’s GDP. Updated to 2012 dollars, the estimated economic burden totaled US $194 billion. In sensitivity analysis, the aggregate costs as a percentage of GDP range from 1.36% to 2.52%. The economic burden of child maltreatment in the East Asia and Pacific region is substantial, indicating the importance of preventing and responding to child mal- treatment in this region. More comprehensive research into the impact of multiple types of childhood adversity on a wider range of putative health outcomes is needed to guide policy and programs for child protection in the region, and globally.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)146-162
Number of pages17
JournalChild Abuse and Neglect
Volume42
Early online date7 Mar 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2015

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • child maltreatment
  • economic burden
  • lifelong consequences
  • disability-adjusted life years
  • East Asia and Pacific region

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