Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia

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1 Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia 1

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3 In an effort to shed light on domestic violence and child abuse and neglect in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the National Family Safety Program (NFSP), at the National Guard Health Affairs commissioned this study Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia 3

4 Introduction: This study is considered the first scientific study to be conducted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that aims to better understand three elements pertaining to dealing with Domestic violence (DV) and Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN). The first aspect, is to measure the extent of awareness of DV and CAN among professionals and employees working in public, private and non-profit organizations. The second is to understand whether the organizations studied have standard operational procedures to deal with DV and CAN and whether these procedures are implemented. The third aspect is to determine the training needs of the professionals and employees dealing with cases of DV and CAN. This study is also considered the largest of its kind to be carried out in Saudi Arabia in terms of the sample size (5,075 people). The study has targeted the professionals and employees of all levels, including figureheads. The sample studied consisted of both males and females from primary, intermediate and secondary schools; hospitals; court officials; police departments and charitable organizations. With this sample, the intent was to be able to generalize the findings to all professionals and employees working at the six categories of public and private intitutions and organizations that deal with cases of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. Study Methods and Procedures: This is a descriptive analytical study that used quantitative and qualitative methods. A social survey questionnaire was used as the main tool for data collection. In addition, two-twelve-item five-point scales were utilized to measure the awareness level of the study sample of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. It was determined that the study population be consisted of all professionals and employees working at the time at any of the identified six categories of institutions in all regions of the Kingdom. To make sure that all the thirteen regions of the Kingdom and all of the six categories of institutions were fairly represented, the sample was drawn in three stages: A) In the first stage, based on the official listing of cities and administrative centers of the Kingdom (see Appendix I); in addition to the capital of the Imara, one city from group A and one city from group B was randomly selected for each of the thirteen regions. B) The second stage involved identifying and delimiting six categories of public and private institutions, including: 4 Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia

5 1. Male public schools; primary, intermediate, and secondary levels. 2. Female public schools; primary, intermediate, and secondary levels. 3. Major hospitals. 4. Police Departments. 5. Courts of the Ministry of Justice, and Charitable organizations, including women charitable organization, and Ministry of Social Affairs. C) In the third stage, one institution of each of the above categories was randomly selected for each randomly selected city/province in each of the thirteen regions of the kingdom. a survey questionnaire was then distributed to all professionals and employees working at the time at these randomly selected institutions. Out of all the surveys distributed, a total of (5,075) were completed and returned to the researchers. it was determined that all the (5,075) was the randomly selected sample for the study. This study was guided by three main research questions: 1. What is the extent of the awareness of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect among the professionals and employees in the thirteen administrative regions of the Kingdom? 2. What are the procedures followed by these professionals and employees when dealing with cases of domestic violence and/or child abuse and neglect cases? 3. What are the training needs of these professionals and employees in regard to domestic violence and child abuse and neglect? The researchers used a validated social survey questionnaire and personal interviews to collect data. Pertaining to the Awareness section of the study, the researcher used a twelve statement scale to measure the extent of the awareness of DV and CAN, among the randomly selected sample. Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia 5

6 1. Findings on Awarness: A. Awareness of child abuse: (79%) of the study group had agreed that child abuse and neglect exist in Saudi Arabia. (56%) had agreed that child abuse and neglect is a wide spread problem in Saudi Arabia. (61%) had agreed that the number of child abuse and neglect cases was more than the number reported. (80%) had agreed that Saudi Arabia is in need of regulations to protect children from abuse and neglect. Only 42% of the study group said that there are agencies and institutions, in Saudi Arabia to protect children. Employees of charitable organizations showed the highest level of awareness of child abuse and neglect (45%) followed by hospital employees (44%). The lowest level of awareness of child abuse and neglect was found among court employees in the judicial system (28%) followed by employees at male schools (28%) Table 1- Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect among Study Subjects # Scale Statement Agree Disagree 1 Child abuse and neglect is wide spread in Saudi Arabia 55.8% 32.9% 2 Child abuse and neglect is blown out of Proportion by the Media 44.9% 37.3% 3 Real Cases of child abuse and neglect is more than what appears on the surface 61.2% 16.1% 4 Child abuse and neglect exist in Saudi Arabia 78.4% 11.8% I can differentiate a child abuse and neglect case from an accidental injury There is a need for a system to protect children from child abuse and neglect Saudi Arabia has enough regulations to guarantee the protection of children from child abuse and neglect 64.5% 10.9% 80.1% 10.1% 47.8% 26.8% 8 most child abuse and neglect perpetrators are parents 50.7% 36.9% 9 Children subjected to child abuse and neglect need protection 88.8% 5.4% There are agencies within the government to protect children from child abuse and neglect Current efforts to protect children from child abuse and neglect are enough 41.9% 22.6% 30.0% 45.1% 12 Perpetrators of child abuse and neglect must be punished 92.4% 4.2% * Raw Total of each does not equal 100% because the do not know, and missing answers have been dropped out of the table 6 Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia

7 B. Awareness of domestic violence (Specifically violence against women): (71%) had agreed that domestic violence exist in Saudi Arabia. (49%) had agreed that domestic violence is a wide spread problem in Saudi Arabia (60%) had agreed that the number of domestic violence cases was more than the number reported. (68%) had agreed that Saudi Arabia is in need of regulations to protect women from domestic violence. Only 43% of the study group said that there are agencies and institutions, in Saudi Arabia to protect women. Among all employees, hospitals and medical centers employees showed the highest level of awareness of domestic violence (48%), followed by charitable organizations (44%). The lowest level of awareness of domestic violence was found among the court and judicial system employees (23%), followed by employees at male schools (30.4%), and by employees at the police department (30%). Table 2- Awareness of Domestic Violence among Study Subjects # Scale Statement Agree Disagree 1 Domestic violence is wide spread in Saudi Arabia 49.2% 40.5% 2 Domestic Violence is blown out of Proportion by the Media 33.9% 39.2% 3 Real Cases of Domestic Violence is more than what appears on the surface 60.3% 16.4% 4 There is Domestic Violence in Saudi Arabia 70.7% 17.7% 5 I can differentiate a domestic violence case from an accidental injury 58.1% 11.8% 6 Domestic violence exists in Saudi Arabia 67.8% 21.7% 7 Saudi Arabia has enough regulations to guarantee the protection of women from domestic violence 42.8% 31.3% 8 Most domestic violence perpetrated by the husbands 64.9% 22.3% 9 Women subjected to domestic violence need protection 88.5% 4.5% 10 There are agencies within the government to protect women from domestic violence 42.8% 22.9% 11 Current efforts to protect women from domestic violence are enough 30.4% 45.2% 12 Perpetrators of domestic violence must be punished 92.1% 3.7% * Raw Total does not equal 100% because the do not know, and missing answers have been dropped out of the table Conclusion: the study shows that there is no significant difference in the level of Awareness between child abuse & neglect and domestic violence Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia 7

8 Table 3- Awareness of Domestic Violence Compared to the Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect among the Study Subjects on a 12-Point Scale # Scale Statement Domestic violence is wide spread in S.A. Domestic Violence is blown out of Proportion by the Media Real Cases of Domestic Violence is more than what appears on the surface Domestic Violence Exist in S.A. I can differentiate a domestic violence case from an accidental injury There is no need for a system to protect women from domestic violence S.A. has enough regulations to guarantee the protection of women from domestic violence Most domestic violence perpetrated by the husbands Women subjected to domestic violence need protection There are agencies within the government to protect women from domestic violence Current efforts to protect women from domestic violence are enough Perpetrators of domestic violence must be punished Domestic Violence Agree/ Strongly Agree Disagree / Strongly Disagree 49.2% 40.5% % 39.2% % 16.4% % 17.7% % 11.8% % 21.7% % 31.3% % 22.3% % 4.5% 9 # 42.8% 22.9% % 45.2% % 3.7% 12 Scale Statement Child Abuse and Neglect Child abuse and neglect is wide spread in S.A. Child abuse and neglect is blown out of Proportion by the Media Real Cases of child abuse and neglect is more than what appears on the surface Child abuse and neglect exist in S.A. I can differentiate a child abuse and neglect case from an accidental injury There is a need for a system to protect women from child abuse and neglect S.A. has enough regulations to guarantee the protection of children from child abuse and neglect Most child abuse and neglect perpetrators are parents Children subjected to child abuse and neglect need protection There are agencies within the government to protect children from child abuse and neglect Current efforts to protect children from child abuse and neglect are enough Perpetrators of child abuse and neglect must be punished Agree / Strongly Agree Disagree/ Strongly Disagree 55.8% 32.9% 44.9% 37.3% 61.2% 16.1% 78.4% 11.8% 64.5% 10.9% 80.1% 10.1% 47.8% 26.8% 50.7% 36.9% 88.8% 5.4% 41.9% 22.6% 30.0% 45.1% 92.4% 4.2% * Raw Total does not equal 100% because the do not know, and missing answers have been dropped out of the table. * S. A. is Saudi Arabia. 8 Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia

9 2. Findings on Training Needs: (97%) of the surveyed employees had no training in DV and CAN, while only (3%) said they had received some form of training. (see Figure # 1) (69%) indicated their desire to attend DV and/or CAN training, while (31%) indicated they had no desire to do so. The study showed disparity among the study subjects on the length of training needed: (26%) of the study group said training should be one week long, (14%) said three days. Others study subjects said one day, two days, or four days would suffice (7%, 5%, and 4% respectively). (12%) said the training should be more than a month. The remaining subjects did not specify a length. While (14%) of the study subjects preferred group discussion, (14%) preferred lecture, (9%) case study, only (3%) preferred presentation. It is worth noting that the majority of the study group (29%) gave multiple answers. (See Figure # 2) While (22%) of the study subjects preferred to have male and female trainers, (17%) said they had no preference between male and female trainers. (18%) said they preferred male trainers only, and (13%) said they preferred female trainers only. (See Figure # 3) Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia 9

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11 3. Findings on the Procedures Dealing With Cases Of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect: Only 1,114 study subjects or (22%) said there were procedures on how to deal with cases of DV and CAN at their work place. (77%) said there were no such procedures or did not know if any procedures existed. (See Figure # 4). Of the 1,114 subjects or (22%) who said they have procedures at their work place, only (53%) of them said they have seen such procedures and (46%) said they have not seen them. In terms of implementation, among the 1,114 or (22%) of the study subjects, who said they have procedures to deal with DV and CAN at their work place, only (41%) said they had implemented those procedures, while (68%) said the procedures can be implemented, and (43%) of the study subjects said the procedures are comprehensive. Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia 11

12 Of the 1,114 (22%) with procedures, (23%) said the source of the procedures is a ministry decision or memorandum, (22%) said the it is a departmental decision or memorandum, (12%) said the source of the procedures is a Cabinet decision, (12%) said the source of the procedures is policy or legislation, and (6.0%) said it is an Imarah decision or memorandum. (25%) either did not know the source of the procedures or did not answer the question. (See Figure 5) Conclusions: It is worth noting that most of the selected and surveyed institutions did not have official documented and comprehensive procedures to deal with domestic violence and child abuse and neglect cases, except for the following institutions: The National Family Safety Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, the Ministry of Social Services and the Ministry of Health. Data Availability on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect: Most of the selected and surveyed institutions did not have any domestic violence or child abuse data, or they were not willing to share their data with the researcher, except for the following institutions: The National Family Safety Program, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center and the Ministry of Social Services. 12 Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia

13 Recommendations: The study concluded with the following selected recommendations: 1. The study stressed the importance of establishing comprehensive awareness programs of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect to be implemented nationally. 2. The use of the media as a partner in these programs is very important. 3. The study recommended establishing training centers to train professionals and employees on how to handle domestic abuse and child maltreatment cases. 4. The study recommended that all procedures on how to handle domestic violence and child abuse and neglect be unified and standardized. 5. There is an urgent need to establish a special social protection apparatus that will be charged with protecting women from domestic violence and children from child abuse and neglect. 6. There is a need to designate a single agency that would assume the responsibility of advocating for the prevention of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. This agency should also issue procedures to oversee their implementation until the official regulations and rules for protecting women and children are issued.. The study recommended that the designated agency be independent from all government ministries and provided all the financial and logistic support. 7. The study recommended that all concerned institutions and agencies be mandated to document all cases of domestic violence and child abuse and neglect and start a data collection system of all documented cases. 8. The study recommended to use the civic registry number as the identifier of the cases, to prevent any possible duplications. 9. The study recommended that a conference on domestic violence and child abuse and neglect be convened annually, where national and international researchers and experts can meet and discuss all matters surrounding domestic violence and child maltreatment. This conference could in turn be used to raise awareness of the issues. 10. The study recommended conducting more research and studies in the area of social protection of women and children and what causes domestic violence and child abuse and neglect. Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia 13

14 Administrative Divisions of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Code Number Imarah Headquarter Governorates Type A Governorates Governorates Type B 1 Riyadh Riyadh Al-Deri yya - Al-Kharj - Al-Dawadmy -Al-Majma ah - Al-Quway iyah - Wadi Al-Dawaser - Al-Aflaj - Al-Zulfi Shaqra - Hotat Bani Tameem Afeef - Al-Saleel - Dharma - Al- Muzahmeya - Rmah - Thadig - Hraymla - Al-Hareeq - Al-Ghat 2 Makkah Makkah City jeddah - Taif - gunfdh - alleith- rabegh aljamoum - kholais - elkamel - alkhorma - raniyah- trabh 3 Madinah Madinah City ynbu - Alola al-mahd - badr - khaybar - hinakiyah 4 Qasim Qasim City Onaizah Alrass Almithnab albukairiyah Albdaia Asyah alnabhaniya shemasyah aljewa riyadhalkhobara 5 Eastern Eastern City Hasa Hafaralbaten Jubail Qatif khobar Alkhafji Rastnorh Abqaiq Nu ayriyah Qaria kharer 6 Asir Abha City Khamis Bisha Alnamas Mohayil Saratabedah Tathleeth Almaa blqrn Rufaidah dhran Almjardh 7 Tabouk Tabouk City Alwajjh Duba Taymaa Umlj Haql 8 Hail Hail City Baqaa Alghazalh alshnan Northern Border Jizan Najran Baha Al-Jouf Arar City Rafha Turaif Jizan City Najran City Sabia aboarish samtah Sharurah Alharth Damhd Alraith Beaish Farasan aldayer masareha alaidaby alqyas Hobona south bader yadema thar khabash Baha City Baljorashi Almandq Makhwah Alaqeq Qalwa Qura Sikaka City Algrayat d-aljandal 14 Domestic Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in Saudi Arabia