# Prevalence and Types of Child Maltreatment, and Its Impact on BMI, Smoking, and Academic Performance in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

## TL;DR

This study examines the prevalence of child maltreatment in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and its effects on BMI, smoking, and academic performance.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the specific impacts of different types of child maltreatment on academic performance in Saudi Arabia.

## Key findings

- Physical abuse was the most common form of maltreatment, affecting high school academic performance.
- Sexual and child neglect also significantly impacted high school academic performance.
- Mental abuse did not significantly affect BMI, smoking, or academic performance.

## Abstract

Background

Child maltreatment is behavior towards a child that deviates from the norm of conduct and carries a significant risk of physical or mental harm.All types of child abuse are considered to be child maltreatment. There are four commonly recognized types of maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse (psychological abuse), and neglect, with physical abuse being the most common form of child maltreatment in boys. The causes of child maltreatment are diverse and not yet fully understood. Abuse and neglect are often associated with physical injury, delayed growth and development, and mental health problems. Diagnosis is based on medical history, physical examination, and sometimes laboratory investigations and diagnostic imaging. We aim to identify the prevalence and types of child maltreatment and its impact on BMI, smoking, and academic performance.

Methods

This cross-sectional study used a self-administered questionnaire and was conducted in Saudi Arabia. It included adults of both sexes, male and female, who were living in Riyadh and were willing to participate in this study. People less than 18 years of age, living outside Riyadh, who did not consent or submitted incomplete questionnaires were excluded.

Results

A total of 385 people from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were included in our study. The prevalence of physical abuse was 192 (53%), 133 (37.6%)for mental abuse, 115 (11.8%)for child neglect, and 42 (32.5%)for sexual abuse. Mental abuse did not significantly impact smoking, high school academic performance, university Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA), or BMI. Physical abuse significantly impacted high school academic performance, but did not significantly impact smoking, university CGPA, or BMI. Sexual abuse significantly impacted high school academic performance, but did not significantly impact smoking, university CGPA, or BMI. Child neglect significantly impacted high school academic performance, but did not significantly impact smoking, university CGPA, or BMI. These results highlight the high prevalence of different forms of abuse in Riyadh and their varied impact on different aspects of individuals' lives.

Conclusion

There is a high incidence of child abuse in Riyadh. Apart from mental abuse, other types of child abusehad a substantial detrimental impact on students' academic performancein high school.