A recent study conducted in Bangladesh has shown that children who have been abused are at risk of high blood pressure.
The rate of high blood pressure among teenagers aged 13 to 18 years is 16.2%, and boys are more affected by it, says a report presented on the occasion of World Children's Day-2022 on Thursday organized at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital (BSMMU) by Public Health and Information Department.
The study was conducted on children under the age of 18 over a period of five years, said a press release.
Meanwhile, excessive physical inactivity, and obesity, have also been cited as risk factors in the report, said the press release.
The study also suggests that during the Covid-19 pandemic, 20% of teens suffered from varying levels of insomnia. Among them 18% had depression, 14% had anxiety, and 16% had overthinking problems.
The research findings were presented in five themes - Research on child rights and protection was presented by Dr Maryam Sal; Muhammad Ibrahim ibn Tawhid presented research on online child abuse; research on adverse childhood experiences and subsequent health problems was presented by Dr Neelima Burman; Shabnam Azeem presented research on the role of media in stopping child abuse, and non-communicable diseases preventing child development was presented by Dr Md Maruf Haque Khan.
Public health experts, academics, researchers, NGO officials, and activists on child rights were present at the event.
Research projects and academic studies published in various international journals related to child health, development and protection were alsopresented at the event.
As the chief guest at the event, Vice Chancellor of BSMMU Dr Md Sharfuddin Ahmed said: “It is not right to give mobile phones to children under the age of 16. They often unknowingly get involved in crimes while using mobile phones.”
He added that children at this age do not clearly understand the concept of good and bad, so they should be only allowed to use mobile phones for two hours under strict surveillance.
“If they get addicted to mobile phones once, it going to be difficult to stop them from using it,” he added.
The study also shows that children or teens who use Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, and other social media are the most likely to be victims of online sexual abuse.
Besides, interviews with mothers of 45 children with autism admitted to a tertiary hospital in Dhaka showed that every child between the age of three and nine had been subjected to physical or mental abuse.
A total of 8.9% of them have been sexually assaulted at some point, says the press release.
Meanwhile, a study on 1,416 children aged between 11 to 17 in rural areas of Bangladesh showed that 19% of them were subjected to physical abuse, 17% to emotional abuse, and 78% were neglected at home, school, and work.
The study also shows that working children, children with disabilities, and children living in slums are at higher risk of experiencing abuse.