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News Topical, Digital Desk : In many countries around the world, children are growing up amid violence. This violence can occur at home, in their neighborhoods, or both. Some children are directly harmed by violence, while others are indirectly harmed by violence among their caregivers or in their communities. Growing up amid violence can have a profound impact on children.
Evidence shows that the link between violence and poor mental health can be seen even before a child reaches school age. According to researchers, exposure to violence in childhood has lifelong effects.
impact on mental health
Researchers in pediatric neuroscience and psychology are seeking to understand how early experiences of violence affect the cognitive and emotional health of young children in low- and middle-income countries. They discuss findings from a review of studies conducted in 20 countries and new data from a large cohort of children in South Africa.
We found that in all the countries we studied, exposure to violence is common among children, and its impact on mental health begins in childhood. Addressing this will require action at all levels: families, communities, health systems, and governments
Shortcomings in research
Infancy (from birth to eight years of age) is a crucial period for children's emotional, social, and cognitive development. Mental health or cognitive challenges encountered in these early years can impact adolescence and adulthood.
Despite this, little is known about the impact of violence on young children in low- and middle-income countries, where rates of violence are often high. Most research focuses on school-age children or adolescents. In South Africa, we assessed incidents of violence in children's lives up to the age of four and a half and examined their mental health at age five.
get what
More than 70 percent of studies of 27,643 children from 20 countries found that children exposed to situations such as abuse, domestic violence, and war have impaired cognitive abilities. A study from South Africa found that 83 percent of children experienced some form of violence by the age of 4.5. This leads to symptoms such as anxiety, fear, or sadness, and externalizing symptoms such as aggression, hyperactivity, and rule-breaking.
Public health challenge
The effects of violence appear before school entry, suggesting that it can impact development long before formal education begins.
What lies ahead for children affected by violence
The reality is sobering and requires urgent action at all levels—family, community, health systems, and governments. Exposure to violence in early childhood is widespread in low- and middle-income countries and has a clear impact on the mental health of young children. Addressing these issues requires early intervention at all levels. Protection and support are essential for building healthy and safe communities in the future.
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