Korean J Ophthalmol.  2017 Apr;31(2):143-150. 10.3341/kjo.2017.31.2.143.

Child Abuse and the Eye in an African Population

• Isawumi MA
• Adebayo M

• KMID: 2373471
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2017.31.2.143

Abstract

PURPOSE
There is a paucity of data on child abuse and the eye in West Africa. Therefore, a need exists to determine the causes and circumstances surrounding these occurrences and their effects on the eye and vision in a pediatric population.
METHODS
A 3-year study of consecutive cases of ocular features that presented to an eye clinic following a history suggestive of child abuse along with any associated eye injury was carried out. Socio-demographic characteristics were obtained, as were the presenting and posttreatment visual acuity, and a full clinical eye examination was also done.
RESULTS
Fifty-six children with 56 affected eyes were examined. The male to female ratio was 1.8 : 1; the mean age was 8.25 ± 3.5 years; and the subjects were predominately primary school children 30 (53.6%). The most common ocular disorders were conjunctiva hyperemia (46.4%), corneal abrasion/ulcer (25.4%), hyphema/uveitis (42.9%), retinal detachment (7.1%), sclera rupture (7.1%), and globe perforation (21.4%). The intraocular pressure was raised in 17.9% of participants. Presenting versus posttreatment visual acuities showed normal vision in four (7.1%) vs. eighteen (32.1%), visual impairment in 12 (21.4%) vs. six (10.7%), severe visual impairment in 20 (35.7%) vs. 12 (21.4%), and blindness in 12 (21.4%) vs. 14 (25%), p < 0.001. The most common injurious agents were canes (25.0%) and sticks (17.9%). The people who inflicted the injuries were parents/relatives (uncles) in 35.7% of cases and the children themselves (accidents) in 21.4% of cases. Circumstances predisposing participants to eye injuries were child labor in 39.3% and beatings in 25.0%. Complications were cataracts (25.0%), corneal opacity (39.3%), and retinal detachment (7.1%).
CONCLUSIONS
Injuries commonly resulted from canes and sticks used during beatings, as well as from child labor, corporal punishment, accidents, and assaults. Legislation and laws need to be enacted to prevent negative psychosocial and economic impacts on the child, family and country as a whole.

Keyword

Child abuse; Eye; Legislation; Nigeria; Predispositions

MeSH Terms

Africa, Western
Blindness
Canes
Cataract
Child
Child Abuse*
Child*
Conjunctiva
Corneal Opacity
Employment
Eye Injuries
Female
Humans
Hyperemia
Intraocular Pressure
Jurisprudence
Male
Nigeria
Punishment
Retinal Detachment
Rupture
Sclera
Vision Disorders
Visual Acuity

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Frequency distribution of the injurious agents of child abuse.

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  Fig. 2 Persons inflicting child abuse.

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