Peer-reviewed article
“Help Children Walking on the Right Path”: Understanding Parents’ and Grandparents’ Perceptions on Violence Against Children in Cambodia and Prevention Strategies
Sari Andajani, Munin Neang ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study explored how parents and grandparents in rural Cambodia understand violence against children and what they think should be done to prevent it. Researchers conducted focus group discussions and community forums with 30 participants to learn about their perceptions of child discipline practices and violence. Participants identified three priority strategies to prevent violence at home: community awareness and education, community-based efforts, and addressing alcohol-related harm. The study found that parents and grandparents had mixed views about what counts as violent discipline, with some accepting certain harsh practices in certain contexts.
Key points
- Participants had mixed and confused views on what constitutes violence against children, with some accepting deception, intimidation, threats, scolding, and physical punishment to a certain degree
- Three priority strategies were identified: community awareness and education, community-based efforts, and addressing alcohol-related violence
- Participants were unaware of existing laws, regulations, or government strategies to address violence against children in the home
- Two of the three community-proposed strategies aligned with Cambodia's 2017-2024 Action Plan, while the third (alcohol harm) was not included but deemed important by the community
- Clear definition of violence against children and articulation of home protection are needed to effectively engage parents and grandparents in prevention efforts
Limitations
The study involved only 30 participants from one small rural community, so findings may not represent all of Cambodia or be generalizable to urban or other rural settings. The research describes community perceptions and proposed strategies but does not evaluate whether any interventions were actually implemented or whether they reduced violence against children.
Abstract
This study examined parents' and grandparents' understanding of violence against children (VAC) strategies to prevent VAC in the home. Research questions: What do parents and grandparents understand about VAC? Which child discipline practices are violent? What are strategies to prevent VAC? Participants: 30 parents and grandparents from a small rural community. Six focus group discussions (FGDs) in which participants shared their perceptions and practices relating to child discipline, forms of VAC, and proposed intervention strategies. In two community forums, participants discussed intervention strategies produced in separate FGDs and agreed on three priority strategies. During the FGDs and community meetings, none of the participants ever mentioned any laws, regulations, or government strategies to address VAC in the home. Participants expressed confusion and mixed feelings and responses on forms of VAC. Some agreed on deception, manipulation, intimidation (som lot), threats (Kom ream, harsh words, scolding (je), and physical punishment (i.e., beating or beating with an object) as an unacceptable discipline that would adversely impact children's well-being. Others agreed on cautiously using such disciplines to a certain degree and context. Participants proposed three priority strategies to address VAC in the home, of which two-community awareness and education and community-based efforts-fit with the Cambodia 2017 to 2024 Action Plan Strategies to Prevent and Respond to VAC. The third strategy, addressing alcohol harm-related violence, though not regarded in the 2017 to 2024 Action Plan, was considered pivotal in preventing VAC. Parents and grandparents have a substantial role in child protection at home. Nevertheless, without a clear definition of VAC or articulation of protecting children from violence in the home, it would be challenging to involve parents/grandparents for effective intervention. Participants' three priority strategies have a substantial policy and program implications for Cambodia's primary prevention of VAC action strategy. Community-based mobilization, education, and capacity building need to start and sustain the community.