EGYPTEGYPTA large scale comparative study (World Studies of Abuse in the Family Environment (WorldSAFE)) which involved surveys with over 14,000 mothers of children aged under 18, carried out between 1998 and 2003, examined parental discipline in Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Philippines, and the United States. In Egypt, 81% of children experienced “moderate” physical discipline (including being “spanked” on the buttocks, hit with an object, slapped on the face and having hot pepper put in their mouth). Over one quarter of children (28%) experienced harsh physical discipline (including being burnt, beaten up, kicked and smothered). Nearly two thirds of children (64%) experienced harsh psychological discipline such as being called names, being cursed and being threatened with abandonment. “Moderate” psychological discipline, including being yelled or screamed at or being refused food was experienced by 77% of children. Non-violent discipline, including explaining why a behaviour was wrong and telling a child to stop, was also widely used (experienced by 86% of children). The study found that rates of harsh physical discipline were dramatically higher in all communities than published rates of official physical abuse in any country, and that rates of physical punishment can vary widely among communities within the same country.
(Runyan, D. et al, 2010, “International Variations in Harsh Child Discipline”, Pediatrics, published online 2 August 2010, www.pediatrics.org)
According to statistics from UNICEF, 92% of children aged 2-14 experienced physical punishment and/or psychological aggression in 2005-2006: 68% experienced physical punishment and psychological aggression, 22% experienced psychological aggression only and 2% experienced physical punishment only; 40% were hit on the face, head or ears, hit repeatedly or hit hard. Of girls and women aged 15-49, 50% think that a husband is justified in hitting or beating his wife under certain circumstances.
(UNICEF, 2009, Progress for Children: A report card on child protection, NY: UNICEF
www.childinfo.org/files/Progress_for_Children-No.8_EN.pdf)