Violence Against Children (VAC) is a widespread global concern, affecting up to 1 billion children each year through physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. VAC is one of the harmful practices that affects children’s holistic development however it has been rooted as a way to make children disciplined. This study intends to explore the occurrence and determinants of violence against children in Nepal, emphasizing Physical and Humiliating Punishment (PHP) and caregiver views toward disciplinary attitude. This study utilizes data from the 2019 Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) to examine socio-demographic factors affecting child risk levels, caregiver acceptance of PHP, and children's exposure to violence. The study categorizes children into no-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk groups based on exposure to violence and caregiver attitudes. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses reveal significant associations between child risk levels and factors such as age, region, parental education, and household wealth. Younger children (about 9 years) exhibit high-risk proportions compared to older children, while rural areas, lower wealth quintiles, and less educated households report higher risks. Maternal education emerges as a critical protective factor, significantly reducing the likelihood of children experiencing violence. Provincial disparities are stark, with Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces showing the highest proportions of high-risk children. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions addressing socio-economic disparities, enhancing parental education, and implementing region-specific strategies to mitigate violence against children.
| Published in | Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19 |
| Page(s) | 85-97 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Violence Against Children, Physical and Humiliating Punishment (PHP), Socio-Demographic Factors, Caregiver Attitudes, Child Risk Levels
| [1] |
WHO, “Violence against children,” WHO. Accessed: Jan. 08, 2025. [Online]. Available:
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-children |
| [2] | UNICEF, “Violence against children,” UNICEF. Accessed: Jan. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available: |
| [3] |
United Nations, “Convention on the Rights of the Child | OHCHR.” Accessed: Jan. 29, 2025. [Online]. Available:
https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention-rights-child |
| [4] | E. T. Gershoff, “Corporal punishment by parents and associated child behaviors and experiences: A meta-analytic and theoretical review,” Psychol Bull, vol. 128, no. 4, pp. 539-579, 2002, |
| [5] | J. Durrant and R. Ensom, “Physical punishment of children: Lessons from 20 years of research,” CMAJ. Canadian Medical Association Journal, vol. 184, no. 12, pp. 1373-1377, Sep. 2012, |
| [6] | M. A. Straus and D. A. Donnelly, “Beating the devil out of them: Corporal punishment in American children,” Beating the Devil Out of Them: Corporal Punishment in American Children, pp. 1-317, Jul. 2017, |
| [7] | T. O. Afifi et al., “Spanking and adult mental health impairment: The case for the designation of spanking as an adverse childhood experience,” Child Abuse Negl, vol. 71, pp. 24-31, Sep. 2017, |
| [8] | M. D. M. de M. Avezum, E. R. P. Altafim, and M. B. M. Linhares, “Spanking and Corporal Punishment Parenting Practices and Child Development: A Systematic Review,” vol. 24, no. 5, pp. 3094-3111, Sep. 2022, |
| [9] | S. Pengpid and K. Peltzer, “Prevalence and Factors Associated with Physical Punishment and Psychological Aggression Towards Children in Laos: Results of the 2017 Social Indicator Survey,” Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 2020 14: 4, vol. 14, no. 4, p. 97456, Dec. 2020, |
| [10] | D. Finkelhor, H. A. Turner, A. Shattuck, and S. L. Hamby, “Prevalence of Childhood Exposure to Violence, Crime, and Abuse: Results From the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence,” JAMA Pediatr, vol. 169, no. 8, pp. 746-754, Aug. 2015, |
| [11] |
World Health Organization, “Global status report on preventing violence against children 2020: Executive summary,” WHO publications, p. 20, 2020, Accessed: Jan. 31, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/332394/9789240004191-eng.pdf%0A
https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789240004191 |
| [12] | UNICEF, “A Familiar Face | UNICEF,” 2017. Accessed: Jan. 31, 2025. [Online]. Available: |
| [13] | S. Holt, H. Buckley, and S. Whelan, “The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: A review of the literature,” Child Abuse Negl, vol. 32, no. 8, pp. 797-810, Aug. 2008, |
| [14] | K. M. Kitzmann, N. K. Gaylord, A. R. Holt, and E. D. Kenny, “Child witnesses to domestic violence: A meta-analytic review,” J Consult Clin Psychol, vol. 71, no. 2, pp. 339-352, Apr. 2003, |
| [15] | UN, “Violence against children: Key findings and recommendations,” 2020. |
| [16] | J. E. Lansford et al., “Corporal Punishment, Maternal Warmth, and Child Adjustment: A Longitudinal Study in Eight Countries,” Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, vol. 43, no. 4, pp. 670-685, 2014, |
| [17] | A. S. Masten, “Global Perspectives on Resilience in Children and Youth,” Child Dev, vol. 85, no. 1, pp. 6-20, Jan. 2014, |
| [18] | Save the Children, “Ending Physical and Humiliating Punishment of Children. Manual for Action | Save the Children’s Resource Centre,” Save the Children. Accessed: Jan. 08, 2025. [Online]. Available: |
| [19] | A. H. Khan, “Key Finding and Protection Gaps Physical and Humiliating Punishment of Children in Bangladesh,” 2021. [Online]. Available: |
| [20] | D. Finkelhor, H. Turner, and D. Laselva, “Medical Treatment Following Violence Exposure in a National Sample of Children and Youth,” JAMA Netw Open, vol. 4, no. 5, pp. e219250-e219250, May 2021, |
| [21] | S. Bălțătescu, T. Strózik, K. Soo, D. Kutsar, D. Strózik, and C. Bacter, “Subjective Well-being of Children Left Behind by Migrant Parents in Six European Countries,” Child Indic Res, vol. 16, no. 5, pp. 1941-1969, Oct. 2023, |
| [22] |
S. Swain, P. Mohanan, N. Sanah, V. Sharma, and D. Ghosh, “Risk behaviors related to violence and injury among school-going adolescents in Karnataka, Southern India,” Int J Adolesc Med Health, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 551-558, Nov. 2014,
https://doi.org/10.1515/IJAMH-2013-0334/MACHINEREADABLECITATION/RIS |
| [23] | F. Li and S. Wang, “Risk-taking behaviors and exposures among vocational school students in China: a cross-sectional survey.,” J Inj Violence Res, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 31-38, Oct. 2020, |
| [24] | K. Bennett, A. Booth, S. Gair, R. Kibet, and R. Thorpe, “Poverty is the problem - not parents: so tell me, child protection worker, how can you help?,” Children Australia, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 207-214, Dec. 2020, |
| [25] | I. S. Speizer, M. M. Goodwin, G. Samandari, S. Y. Kim, and M. Clyde, “Dimensions of child punishment in two Central American countries: Guatemala and El Salvador,” 2008. |
| [26] | L. A. Fontes, “Child Discipline and Physical Abuse in Immigrant Latino Families: Reducing Violence and Misunderstandings,” Journal of Counseling & Development, vol. 80, no. 1, pp. 31-40, Jan. 2002, |
| [27] | “Physical punishment: an unnecessary risk to children - PubMed.” Accessed: Jan. 10, 2025. [Online]. Available: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9369549/ |
| [28] | J. E. Lansford and K. Deater-Deckard, “Childrearing Discipline and Violence in Developing Countries,” Child Dev, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 62-75, Jan. 2012, |
| [29] | A. J. Zolotor and M. E. Puzia, “Bans against corporal punishment: a systematic review of the laws, changes in attitudes and behaviours,” Child Abuse Review, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 229-247, Jul. 2010, |
| [30] | T. Hecker, K. Hermenau, D. Isele, and T. Elbert, “Corporal punishment and children’s externalizing problems: A cross-sectional study of Tanzanian primary school aged children,” Child Abuse Negl, vol. 38, no. 5, pp. 884-892, May 2014, |
| [31] | D. K. Runyan et al., “International Variations in Harsh Child Discipline,” Pediatrics, vol. 126, no. 3, pp. e701-e711, Sep. 2010, |
| [32] | M. A. Straus and J. H. Stewart, “Corporal punishment by American parents: National data on prevalence, chronicity, severity, and duration, in relation to child and family characteristics,” Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 55-70, Jun. 1999, |
| [33] | UNICEF, “A Familiar Face: Violence in the lives of children and adolescents - UNICEF DATA.” Accessed: Jan. 31, 2025. [Online]. Available: |
APA Style
Puri, P. K., Chaudhari, J. (2025). Socio-Demographic Determinants of Parental Attitudes and Practices Towards Violence Against Children in Nepal: An Analysis Using MICS 2019 Data. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(1), 85-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19
ACS Style
Puri, P. K.; Chaudhari, J. Socio-Demographic Determinants of Parental Attitudes and Practices Towards Violence Against Children in Nepal: An Analysis Using MICS 2019 Data. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(1), 85-97. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19
AMA Style
Puri PK, Chaudhari J. Socio-Demographic Determinants of Parental Attitudes and Practices Towards Violence Against Children in Nepal: An Analysis Using MICS 2019 Data. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(1):85-97. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19,
author = {Peshal Kumar Puri and Juthiram Chaudhari},
title = {Socio-Demographic Determinants of Parental Attitudes and Practices Towards Violence Against Children in Nepal: An Analysis Using MICS 2019 Data
},
journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
volume = {13},
number = {1},
pages = {85-97},
doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251301.19},
abstract = {Violence Against Children (VAC) is a widespread global concern, affecting up to 1 billion children each year through physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. VAC is one of the harmful practices that affects children’s holistic development however it has been rooted as a way to make children disciplined. This study intends to explore the occurrence and determinants of violence against children in Nepal, emphasizing Physical and Humiliating Punishment (PHP) and caregiver views toward disciplinary attitude. This study utilizes data from the 2019 Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) to examine socio-demographic factors affecting child risk levels, caregiver acceptance of PHP, and children's exposure to violence. The study categorizes children into no-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk groups based on exposure to violence and caregiver attitudes. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses reveal significant associations between child risk levels and factors such as age, region, parental education, and household wealth. Younger children (about 9 years) exhibit high-risk proportions compared to older children, while rural areas, lower wealth quintiles, and less educated households report higher risks. Maternal education emerges as a critical protective factor, significantly reducing the likelihood of children experiencing violence. Provincial disparities are stark, with Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces showing the highest proportions of high-risk children. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions addressing socio-economic disparities, enhancing parental education, and implementing region-specific strategies to mitigate violence against children.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Socio-Demographic Determinants of Parental Attitudes and Practices Towards Violence Against Children in Nepal: An Analysis Using MICS 2019 Data AU - Peshal Kumar Puri AU - Juthiram Chaudhari Y1 - 2025/02/26 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19 DO - 10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19 T2 - Humanities and Social Sciences JF - Humanities and Social Sciences JO - Humanities and Social Sciences SP - 85 EP - 97 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-8184 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251301.19 AB - Violence Against Children (VAC) is a widespread global concern, affecting up to 1 billion children each year through physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. VAC is one of the harmful practices that affects children’s holistic development however it has been rooted as a way to make children disciplined. This study intends to explore the occurrence and determinants of violence against children in Nepal, emphasizing Physical and Humiliating Punishment (PHP) and caregiver views toward disciplinary attitude. This study utilizes data from the 2019 Nepal Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) to examine socio-demographic factors affecting child risk levels, caregiver acceptance of PHP, and children's exposure to violence. The study categorizes children into no-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk groups based on exposure to violence and caregiver attitudes. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses reveal significant associations between child risk levels and factors such as age, region, parental education, and household wealth. Younger children (about 9 years) exhibit high-risk proportions compared to older children, while rural areas, lower wealth quintiles, and less educated households report higher risks. Maternal education emerges as a critical protective factor, significantly reducing the likelihood of children experiencing violence. Provincial disparities are stark, with Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces showing the highest proportions of high-risk children. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions addressing socio-economic disparities, enhancing parental education, and implementing region-specific strategies to mitigate violence against children. VL - 13 IS - 1 ER -
Development Studies, Kathmandu University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Department Psychology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
Information