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The World Health Organization reports that an estimated 20 percent of all women are victims of sexual abuse. The effects of physical, emotional and sexual abuse and violence are far-reaching; not only their health but also the economic prospects of victims are affected. In conflict areas - where many refugees are given shelter - girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse and assault.

Child abuse has for a long time been recorded in literature, art and science in many parts of the world. Reports of infanticide, mutilation, abandonment and other forms of violence against children date back to ancient civilizations. The historical record is also filled with reports of unkempt, weak and malnourished children cast out by families to fend for themselves and of children who have been sexually abused. For a long time also there have existed charitable groups and others concerned with children’s wellbeing who have advocated the protection of children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted at the educational institutional level a cross sectional study to estimate the prevalence of child physical abuse among upper primary children’s in the selected zones of the study region Chennai, in Tamil Nadu. The upper primary school children are in the selected zones of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The study was carried out from July 2019 to December 2019. The period of study in upper primary school was from June 2019 to February 2020. The study population comprised of adults in upper primary schools in selected zones of Chennai.
The study was carried out by a multistage sampling method. The first and second stages employed a simple random sampling technique, followed by systemic random sampling. Data collection was done in the upper primary school level after obtaining permission from The Headmaster of all the schools in the selected zone. The collected data was entered for analysis in Microsoft Excel. This data was exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 21 for analysis.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

The following findings is based on physical abuse of children in various forms was interpreted as tabulation and explained their results from the interpretation.

Table 1: Anyone beat or physically hurt you

Table 1 represents did anyone beat or physically hurt the respondents. It clearly shows that majority of 46.0 per cent of them say never. 33.3 per cent of the respondent not mentioned anything and 20.7 percent of the respondents have been beaten or physically hurt by other members. The above table conclude that majority of the respondents never been beaten or physically touched by others.

Table 2:  Beating or physically hurting ever leave any mark on the body

Mark on body	Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Yes	31	20.7	20.7	20.7
No	83	55.3	55.3	76.0
Not mentioned	36	24.0	24.0	100.0
Total	150	100.0	100.0

Table 2 depict did beating or physically hurting ever leave any mark on your body. It Cleary shows that majority of 55.3 per cent of the respondents never have any mark on the body through beating or physically hurting. 24.0 per cent not mentioned anything about it and 20.7 per cent have mark on the body due to beating and physically touching in the body. The above table conclude that beating or physically touching never make any mark on the body.

Table 3: Beating or physically hurting take place once or many times

Table 3 describes the kind of beating or physically hurting take place once or many times.  It clearly shows that majority of 52.7 per cent mentioned that beating or physically hurting take place at least once or many times. Remaining 36.7 per cent says never and 10.7 per cent not mentioned anything about the given statement. The above table conclude that beating or hurting take place more than a times in respondent’s heart.

Table 4: Parents tie with belt, tree or chair

Table 4 explains that respondent’s parents tie them with belt, tree or chair. It clearly indicates that majority of 103 respondents forming 68.7 percent says no. Remaining 20.7 per cent not mentioned anything and 10.7 per cent of the respondents not mentioned anything about the statement. The above table conclude that majority of the respondents parents never tie with belt, tree or chair etc.

Table 5: Physically abused in classroom by a teacher

Table 5 respondents physically abused in the classroom by a teacher. It clearly shows that majority of 67.3 per cent of them never abused, remaining 17.3 per cent of them getting abused and 15.3 per cent not mentioned about it. The above table conclude that majority of the respondents never abused in the classroom by the teachers in the study region.

Table 6: Physically abused by a family members

Table 6 depicts did the respondents physically abused by their family members or relatives. It clearly indicated that majority of 62.0 per cent of the respondents never physically abused by their family members or relatives. Remaining 22.7 per cent physically abused and 15.3 per cent not mentioned anything. The above table conclude that majority of the respondents never physically abused by the family member or relatives.

Table 7: Physically abused within peer groups

Table 7 describe did the respondents physically abused within peer groups. It clearly shows that majority of 56.7 per cent not all physically abused within peer groups. Remaining 24.7 per cent not mentioned anything and 18.7 per cent are physically abused within peer groups. The above table conclude that majority of the respondents not at all abused within their peer groups.

Table 8: Parents hit or slapped when they are angry

Table 8 explains parents hit or slapped when they angry with them. It clearly shows that majority of 50.7 per cent of them parents never hit or slapped their kids when they are angry. Remaining 26.7 per cent of the respondents not mentioned anything about the statement and 22.7 per cent of their parents hit or slapped while they get angry. The above table conclude that majority of the respondent’s parents never hit or slapped while they getting angry.

Table 9: Parents hit with hard objects such as stick or steel rod etc

Table 9 represents parents hit with hard objects like stick or iron steel road etc. the above table shows that majority of 54.7 per cent of their parents never hit, remaining 28.7 per cent not mentioned and 16.7 per cent of their parents hit with hard objects like stick etc. The above table conclude that majority of the respondents parents never hit them with stick or steel rod in the study region.

Table 10: Parents burning with cigar, iron or other hot materials

Table 10 explain whether respondents burn them with cigar, iron or other hot materials.  It clearly indicate that majority of the respondent parents never burning their kids with cigar, iron or other materials. Remaining 16.7 per cent not mentioned about it and 10.0 per cent of the parents burning the respondents with cigar, iron or other materials. The above table conclude that majority of the respondent’s parents never burn their kids with cigar, iron or other materials.

Table 11: At present anyone beat or physically hurt you

Table 11 describe at present anyone beat or physically hurt the respondents in the study region. It clearly shows that majority of 70.7 per cent of the respondents never been physically hurt or beaten by any one at present. Remaining 16.0 per cent not mentioned anything about it and 13.3 per cent of the respondents has been physically hurt or beaten by someone in the study region. The above table concludes that majority of the respondents never been beaten or physically hurt by anyone in the study area.

CONCLUSION

All children have the right to live in safety and dignity in a protective and nurturing environment, both at home and in the community. This is possible by creating awareness of their rights, especially their right to protection, in parents and other stakeholders, putting in place laws to punish those who abuse and exploit children and taking appropriate action to strengthen accountability on the part of government and nongovernment agencies and the civil society.
For the first time, in India, an effort has been made to understand the extent and magnitude of different dimensions of abuse of children in the country with the hope that the findings will pave the way towards a better understanding of the factors leading to abuse of children and measures to prevent them, thus creating a such a caring and nurturing environment.

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