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

• Published in: Child abuse & neglect Vol. 42; pp. 146 - 162
• Main Authors: Fang, Xiangming, Fry, Deborah A, Brown, Derek S, Mercy, James A, Dunne, Michael P, Butchart, Alexander R, Corso, Phaedra S, Maynzyuk, Kateryna, Dzhygyr, Yuriy, Chen, Yu, McCoy, Amalee, Swales, Diane M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2015; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antisocial Behavior; Asia - epidemiology; Child; Child Abuse; Child abuse & neglect; Child Abuse - economics; Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Child Advocacy; Child maltreatment; Child, Preschool; Cost of Illness; Disability-Adjusted Life Years; East Asia and Pacific region; Economic burden; Emotional abuse; Emotions; Exposure to Violence - economics; Exposure to Violence - statistics & numerical data; Female; Fractions; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Lifelong consequences; Male; Mental health; Meta Analysis; Pacific Islands - epidemiology; Pediatrics; Per capita; Prevalence; Psychiatry; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Sensitivity analysis; Asia; Pacific Islands; Pacific region; Lifelong consequences; Disability-Adjusted Life Years; Economic burden; East Asia and Pacific region; Child maltreatment
• ISSN: 0145-2134; 1873-7757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.02.012

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. Systematic 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 maltreatment 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 maltreatment 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.