Jui-Ying Feng1, Yi-Ping Hsieh2, Hsiao-Lin Hwa3, Ching-Yu Huang4, Hsi-Sheng Wei5, April Chiung-Tao Shen6. 1. Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University and Hospital, No. 1, University Road, Tainan City 701, Taiwan. Electronic address: juiying@mail.ncku.edu.tw. 2. Department of Social Work, University of North Dakota, 225 Centennial Drive, Stop 7135, Grand Forks, ND, 58202, USA. Electronic address: yiping.hsieh@und.edu. 3. Department and Graduate Institute of Forensic Medicine, National Taiwan University, No.1, Jen Ai Rd., Section 1, Taipei 100, Taiwan. Electronic address: hwahl013@ntu.edu.tw. 4. Department of Psychology, Bournemouth University, Fern Barrow, BH12 5BB, UK. Electronic address: soarhuang@gmail.com. 5. Department of Social Work, National Taipei University, 151, University Rd., San Shia District, New Taipei City 23741, Taiwan. Electronic address: hswei@mail.ntpu.edu.tw. 6. Department of Social Work, National Taiwan University, 1, Roosevelt, Rd. Sec. 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan. Electronic address: acshen@ntu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although research on the negative effects of childhood poly-victimization is substantial, few studies have examined the relationship between poly-victimization and younger children's physical health and diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the associations between poly-victimization and children's health problems requiring medical attention. METHODS: A national stratified cluster random sampling was used to select and approach 25% of the total primary schools in Taiwan, and 49% of the approached schools agreed to participate in this study. We collected data with a self-report questionnaire from 6233 (4th-grade) students aged 10-11, covering every city and county in Taiwan. RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses demonstrate a significant dose-response relationship between children's poly-victimization exposure and their health problems including hospitalization, serious injury, surgery, daily-medication requirements, heart murmurs, asthma, dizziness or fainting, allergies, kidney disease, therapies for special needs, smoking, and alcohol use. The results indicate that children's risk of having a health problem grew significantly with each increase in the number of victimization types that children experienced. CONCLUSIONS: These research findings underscore the effect of poly-victimization on children's health problems requiring medical attention, and stress the need for both proper screening methods for children's exposure to poly-victimization and stronger awareness of poly-victimization's effects on health conditions in healthcare clinics.
BACKGROUND: Although research on the negative effects of childhood poly-victimization is substantial, few studies have examined the relationship between poly-victimization and younger children's physical health and diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study examines the associations between poly-victimization and children's health problems requiring medical attention. METHODS: A national stratified cluster random sampling was used to select and approach 25% of the total primary schools in Taiwan, and 49% of the approached schools agreed to participate in this study. We collected data with a self-report questionnaire from 6233 (4th-grade) students aged 10-11, covering every city and county in Taiwan. RESULTS: Logistic regression analyses demonstrate a significant dose-response relationship between children's poly-victimization exposure and their health problems including hospitalization, serious injury, surgery, daily-medication requirements, heart murmurs, asthma, dizziness or fainting, allergies, kidney disease, therapies for special needs, smoking, and alcohol use. The results indicate that children's risk of having a health problem grew significantly with each increase in the number of victimization types that children experienced. CONCLUSIONS: These research findings underscore the effect of poly-victimization on children's health problems requiring medical attention, and stress the need for both proper screening methods for children's exposure to poly-victimization and stronger awareness of poly-victimization's effects on health conditions in healthcare clinics.
Authors: Beatriz Víllora; Elisa Larrañaga; Santiago Yubero; Antonio Alfaro; Raúl Navarro Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-01-16 Impact factor: 3.390