Nyan Linn. Family and household characteristics and violent disciplinary practices towards the children in Myanmar: an analysis of 2015-2016 Myanmar demographic and health survey. Master's Degree(Public Health). Chulalongkorn University. Office of Academic Resources. : Chulalongkorn University, 2569.
Family and household characteristics and violent disciplinary practices towards the children in Myanmar: an analysis of 2015-2016 Myanmar demographic and health survey
Abstract:
Background: Violence against children is one of the challenging public health problems. Violent disciplines not only affect negative health impacts but also are against children's right. However, those violent methods are still widespread across the countries, especially within the family. For prevention and control, it is required to clearly understand the country-specific information of violent child disciplines. In Myanmar, there are very few studies focusing on this area. This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with violent disciplines against children in Myanmar.Methodology: This study was a secondary data analysis of nationally representative 2015-2016 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey ; the sampling design of which is two-staged clustered sampling. This study included 7,395 children aged 2-14 years selected for the child disciplinary module. Disciplinary practices were interviewed to a caregiver of the child with 11 questions. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were analysed to examine the prevalence and associated factors of violent disciplines. The prevalence was described by proportion and the associations were presented using odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Stata version 16.0 was used for data analysis in which sampling weights and cluster survey design were accounted to be representative of the population.Results: An overall, 77%, of children aged 2-14 were committed by any violent disciplines with 74% for any type of psychological aggression, 41% for mild to moderate physical punishment, and 12% for severe physical punishment. The most common method is shouting, yelling, or screaming at the child (71.8%). Primary caregiver being female (OR=1.64, 95%=1.09,2.49) and with none or primary education level (OR=1.70, 95%CI=1.01,2.87) ; attitude of caregivers believed physical punishment being necessary (OR=2.23, 95%CI=1.72,2.90) ; and presence of domestic violence against woman in the family (OR=1.50, 95%CI=1.21,1.86) are significant risk factors while children with father deceased (OR=0.65, 95%CI=0.44,0.97) and living in richer (OR=0.60, 95%CI=0.43,0.85) and richest households (OR=0.55, 95%CI=0.35,0.88) are significant protective factors of violent disciplines.Conclusion: Violent disciplinary practices towards children are high in Myanmar and many significant predictors are identified. Therefore, sustainable actions should be immediately implemented in the community to educate harmful effects of violent disciplines and communicate with children in optimistic ways ; especially focusing on uneducated caregivers, poor or violence prevalent households.