Child Laborers’ Exposure to Physical Maltreatment in Rural Bangladesh: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Child maltreatment is a global public health concern. A high percentage of children working in rural informal sectors in Bangladesh experiences physical maltreatment. This area of study, however, remains understudied. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and risk factors of physical maltreatment of child laborers in rural Bangladesh. A total of 200 child laborers and parents were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, including the ICAST-CH and ICAST-P survey tools. Multivariable linear regression was performed using SPSS and STATA software to analyze data. Above 66% of child laborers experienced being hit, beaten, or spanked with a bare hand, followed by 53% being pushed, grabbed, or kicked sometimes in the past year. In addition, 35% of parents reported that their children had been hit on the head with a knuckle, and 30% reported their child had been hit on the buttock with an object once/twice in the past year. This study identified that the parents’ employment in service sectors (β = –0.87, p = 0.04), an increase in individual (β = –1.92, p = 0.02), and household income (β = –0.98, p = 0.02) significantly reduced the child laborers’ risk of experiencing physical maltreatment. Conversely, the rate of physical maltreatment increased with the extension of working hours (β = 0.52, p < 0.01). There is a need for extensive studies on the physical maltreatment of child laborers. The study suggests reformulations and adaptations to policy and the provision of social safety net programs in rural areas to prevent physical maltreatment of child laborers.