Pharmacy Daily | Kids maltreated

AN AUSTRALIAN-first study published in The Medical Journal of Australia yesterday has found the abuse of children is widespread across the country.

The Australian Child Maltreatment Study surveyed 8,500 randomly selected Australians aged 16-65 years and over, finding high prevalence of childhood maltreatment experienced by people of every age group.

It found that, in childhood aged up to 18, one-third had experienced physical abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse; nearly one in 10 had experienced neglect; and just under one in two of respondents had been exposed to domestic violence.

"It is sobering to learn these results," said lead investigator Prof Ben Mathews, Principal Research Fellow at the School of Law at Queensland University of Technology.

"Some maltreatment types, especially sexual abuse and emotional abuse, have been found to be strongly associated with mental disorders and health risk behaviours (including cannabis dependence, self-harm, and suicide attempt).

"In addition, many children experienced more than one type of maltreatment with girls more likely to experience multi-type maltreatment than boys, with gender diverse even more so," said Mathews.