DAMMAM: A study by the National Family Safety Program with 18,000 teenagers has revealed that 13 percent have been sexually abused, 53 percent neglected, and 80 percent faced various forms of physical and psychological abuse.
The study also showed there was poor public awareness of domestic violence, with only 2 percent of 5,700 professionals having received training to deal with perpetrators and victims, according to a report in a local publication recently.
Maha Al-Munief, executive president of the program, said abuse in childhood leads to various chronic physical and psychological problems. She said that 11 percent of children brought up in relatively safe environments contract diabetes, while this rate increases to 23 percent in abusive environments, while it is 14 percent and 35 percent for the risk of hypertension.
Speaking during an event entitled “Domestic Violence — From Silence to Legislation,” which was organized by the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Fund for the Development of Women in Dammam, she said 3 percent of normal children start using drugs while this rises to 17 percent among those abused. Depression affects 5 percent of normal children and 21 percent of those abused, she said.
Al-Munief said only 5 percent of teenagers who are abused reach out for protection, according to surveys. She said many of bodies focus on current problems without investigating causes. Services offered by programs in this country include supporting children with 22 consultants who receive training of between three and six months.
She said that other centers would be opened soon to train more professionals to deal with abused women and children. Current programs include nine sessions a year for police officers, judges, lawyers and other professionals.
Al-Munief said that the program has already assisted 250,000 children in various parts of the country. Sixty percent of the calls received are from children. Between 5 and 10 percent of children are exposed to physical violence and 1 percent to sexual violence, she said.
The study also showed there was poor public awareness of domestic violence, with only 2 percent of 5,700 professionals having received training to deal with perpetrators and victims, according to a report in a local publication recently.
Maha Al-Munief, executive president of the program, said abuse in childhood leads to various chronic physical and psychological problems. She said that 11 percent of children brought up in relatively safe environments contract diabetes, while this rate increases to 23 percent in abusive environments, while it is 14 percent and 35 percent for the risk of hypertension.
Speaking during an event entitled “Domestic Violence — From Silence to Legislation,” which was organized by the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Fund for the Development of Women in Dammam, she said 3 percent of normal children start using drugs while this rises to 17 percent among those abused. Depression affects 5 percent of normal children and 21 percent of those abused, she said.
Al-Munief said only 5 percent of teenagers who are abused reach out for protection, according to surveys. She said many of bodies focus on current problems without investigating causes. Services offered by programs in this country include supporting children with 22 consultants who receive training of between three and six months.
She said that other centers would be opened soon to train more professionals to deal with abused women and children. Current programs include nine sessions a year for police officers, judges, lawyers and other professionals.
Al-Munief said that the program has already assisted 250,000 children in various parts of the country. Sixty percent of the calls received are from children. Between 5 and 10 percent of children are exposed to physical violence and 1 percent to sexual violence, she said.
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