Parental knowledge and preventive role in child abuse: a cross-sectional study from a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitudes, and preventive role of parents regarding child abuse (CA), and to identify factors influencing parental awareness in a tertiary care hospital setting in Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Mayo Hospital, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan, from January to September 2022. A total of 114 parents of children aged ≤12 years were enrolled through non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using a pre-validated, bilingual (English and Urdu) self-administered questionnaire, adapted with permission. Demographic variables and responses to Likert-scale items assessing parental knowledge and practices related to child abuse prevention (CAP) were analyzed using SPSS v26. Chi-square test was applied to assess associations, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of respondents was 33.7±6.5 years; 60.5% were mothers. Most participants (91.2%) lived in two-parent households. While 89.5% agreed that educating children about CAP is essential, only 68.1% had discussed CAP with their children. The mean age of children suggested for CAP education was 5.9±2.3 years. Knowledge gaps were observed, especially regarding physical signs of abuse and misconceptions about perpetrators. Significant associations were found between demographic variables (age, education, income) and CAP-related beliefs (p<0.05). Only 5.3% reported their child had participated in a formal CAP program. Conclusion: Although parents recognize the importance of child abuse prevention, actual engagement in preventive education remains suboptimal. Efforts should focus on structured CAP programs and parent-targeted interventions, especially in families with younger children or limited education.