Epidemiological Profile of Child Victims of Abuse: Case of The City of Yaoundé, Cameroon

Background: Better prevention of child abuse requires knowledge of risk factors and situations. The general objective of our study was to determine the relative frequency of child abuse in Yaoundé and to draw its epidemiological profile. Method: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study from January ۱, ۲۰۱۵ to December ۳۱, ۲۰۱۹, i.e., ۵ years, in ۴ referral hospitals in Yaoundé. All records of victims of abuse under the age of ۱۸ years were included. The data collected were analyzed using Epi-info TM version ۷.۲ software. Ethical clearance was obtained to conduct our study. Results: Of the ۱۹,۱۸۷ usable records, child abuse victims represented ۰.۶۸% (۱۳۲). Most of the victims were female (۱۲۱; ۹۱.۷%), under ۱۱ years of age (۱۰۶; ۸۰.۳%), middle siblings (۴۶; ۳۵.۰%) and HIV infection was the most common medical history at ۱۷.۴% (۲۳). The accompanying person for the first consultation was their mother (۷۲/۱۳۲; ۵۴.۵%). Four (۳.۰%) children had lost both parents. The main antecedent related to the legal guardian was HIV seropositivity, ۷۰.۲% (۶۶/۹۴). Conclusion: Child abuse, far from being negligible, concerned primarily girls under ۱۱ years of age. HIV infection was a factor found in both the child victim and the legal guardian in our context

Keywords:

Abuse , Children , Epidemiology , Yaoundé