Rural-Urban Migration and Experience of Childhood Abuse in the Young Thai Population

• NCJ Number: 237299
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 26 Issue: 8 Dated: November 2011 Pages: 607-615
• Author(s): Tawanchai Jirapramukpitak; Melanie Abas; Trudy Harpham; Martin Prince
• Date Published: November 2011
• Length: 9 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study aims to examine the association between migration status and the history of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse among young Thai people in an urban community.

Abstract

Evidence suggests that certain migrant populations are at increased risk of abusive behaviors. It is unclear whether this may also apply to Thai rural-urban migrants, who may experience higher levels of psychosocial adversities than the population at large. The study aims to examine the association between migration status and the history of childhood sexual, physical, and emotional abuse among young Thai people in an urban community. A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in Northern Bangkok on a representative sample of 1,052 young residents, aged 16-25 years. Data were obtained concerning: 1) Exposuresmigration (defined as an occasion when a young person, born in a more rural area moves for the first time into Greater Bangkok) and age at migration. 2) Outcomeschild abuse experiences were assessed with an anonymous self report adapted from the Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS). There were 8.4 percent, 16.6 percent and 56.0 percent reporting sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, respectively. Forty six percent of adolescents had migrated from rural areas to Bangkok, mostly independently at the age of 15 or after to seek work. Although there were trends towards higher prevalences of the three categories of abuse among early migrants, who moved to Bangkok before the age of 15, being early migrants was independently associated with experiences of physical abuse (OR 1.9 95 percent CI 1.1-3.2) and emotional abuse (OR 2.0, 95 percent CI 1.3-3.0) only. The results suggest that rural-urban migration at an early age may place children at higher risk of physical and emotional abuse. This may have policy implications for the prevention of childhood abuse particularly among young people on the move. (Published Abstract)