Identifying population variation in the use of physical punishments by child age and sex: cameroon vs nigeria

ObjectivesThere is some evidence of variation in parent use of physical punishments by child age and sex; however, reports are frequently limited (eg, use of excessively broad age categories, only considering spanking, mainly focused on US populations). This study aimed to determine variation in the use of multiple physical punishments over narrow age bands in population samples of 2 neighboring African countries.MethodsData from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, which use nationally representative household samples, were examined for Nigeria (2016 to 2017) and Cameroon (2014). The surveys included standardized questions, asked of an adult caregiver, about the use of 6 different physical punishments in the last month on 1 randomly selected child per household between 1 and 14 years of age. The countries were compared on the prevalence of these punishment types by sex and 1-year age bands. Given multiple statistical testing, only values with p < .001 are reported as significant.ResultsData were available for 21,370 Nigerian and 5,905 Cameroonian households. Physical punishment was more prevalent in Nigeria than Cameroon for combined age and sex for 4 of 6 punishments (hit with an object, hit limb, hit on head, beat up). This same pattern was seen for each sex, except not for male children hit with an object. For the combine variable “any physical punishment,” the prevalence was significantly higher for older Nigerian children (≥10 years of age), whereas for some specific punishments, prevalence was higher for younger Cameroonians (≤5 years of age). This age effect was particularly evident for spanking. Spanking was more prevalent for younger Cameroonians (and statistically lower at age 2 years). The prevalence peak for spanking in Cameroon occurred at age 4 years (59.1%), followed by a substantial declined by age reaching 22.2% at age 14 years. In contrast, Nigeria had a later peak (52.7% at age 6 years), with much slower decline by age (40.1% at age 14 years).ConclusionsExamination of age bands revealed substantial differences between countries for certain discipline practices. Further inquiry as to the rationale for these patterns and factors underpinning these divergence practices may inform initiatives aimed at modifying child rearing to reduce the extent of reliance on physical punishment.PAT, CUL, EPI ObjectivesThere is some evidence of variation in parent use of physical punishments by child age and sex; however, reports are frequently limited (eg, use of excessively broad age categories, only considering spanking, mainly focused on US populations). This study aimed to determine variation in the use of multiple physical punishments over narrow age bands in population samples of 2 neighboring African countries. There is some evidence of variation in parent use of physical punishments by child age and sex; however, reports are frequently limited (eg, use of excessively broad age categories, only considering spanking, mainly focused on US populations). This study aimed to determine variation in the use of multiple physical punishments over narrow age bands in population samples of 2 neighboring African countries. MethodsData from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, which use nationally representative household samples, were examined for Nigeria (2016 to 2017) and Cameroon (2014). The surveys included standardized questions, asked of an adult caregiver, about the use of 6 different physical punishments in the last month on 1 randomly selected child per household between 1 and 14 years of age. The countries were compared on the prevalence of these punishment types by sex and 1-year age bands. Given multiple statistical testing, only values with p < .001 are reported as significant. Data from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, which use nationally representative household samples, were examined for Nigeria (2016 to 2017) and Cameroon (2014). The surveys included standardized questions, asked of an adult caregiver, about the use of 6 different physical punishments in the last month on 1 randomly selected child per household between 1 and 14 years of age. The countries were compared on the prevalence of these punishment types by sex and 1-year age bands. Given multiple statistical testing, only values with p < .001 are reported as significant. ResultsData were available for 21,370 Nigerian and 5,905 Cameroonian households. Physical punishment was more prevalent in Nigeria than Cameroon for combined age and sex for 4 of 6 punishments (hit with an object, hit limb, hit on head, beat up). This same pattern was seen for each sex, except not for male children hit with an object. For the combine variable “any physical punishment,” the prevalence was significantly higher for older Nigerian children (≥10 years of age), whereas for some specific punishments, prevalence was higher for younger Cameroonians (≤5 years of age). This age effect was particularly evident for spanking. Spanking was more prevalent for younger Cameroonians (and statistically lower at age 2 years). The prevalence peak for spanking in Cameroon occurred at age 4 years (59.1%), followed by a substantial declined by age reaching 22.2% at age 14 years. In contrast, Nigeria had a later peak (52.7% at age 6 years), with much slower decline by age (40.1% at age 14 years). Data were available for 21,370 Nigerian and 5,905 Cameroonian households. Physical punishment was more prevalent in Nigeria than Cameroon for combined age and sex for 4 of 6 punishments (hit with an object, hit limb, hit on head, beat up). This same pattern was seen for each sex, except not for male children hit with an object. For the combine variable “any physical punishment,” the prevalence was significantly higher for older Nigerian children (≥10 years of age), whereas for some specific punishments, prevalence was higher for younger Cameroonians (≤5 years of age). This age effect was particularly evident for spanking. Spanking was more prevalent for younger Cameroonians (and statistically lower at age 2 years). The prevalence peak for spanking in Cameroon occurred at age 4 years (59.1%), followed by a substantial declined by age reaching 22.2% at age 14 years. In contrast, Nigeria had a later peak (52.7% at age 6 years), with much slower decline by age (40.1% at age 14 years). ConclusionsExamination of age bands revealed substantial differences between countries for certain discipline practices. Further inquiry as to the rationale for these patterns and factors underpinning these divergence practices may inform initiatives aimed at modifying child rearing to reduce the extent of reliance on physical punishment.PAT, CUL, EPI Examination of age bands revealed substantial differences between countries for certain discipline practices. Further inquiry as to the rationale for these patterns and factors underpinning these divergence practices may inform initiatives aimed at modifying child rearing to reduce the extent of reliance on physical punishment.