Socioeconomic and Family Risk Factors for Child Abuse and Neglect in Urban Vietnam:

Evidence from a Community Survey in Hanoi

抄録

Child abuse and neglect remain major public health concerns worldwide, with serious consequences for children’s physical, psychological, and social development. However, empirical quantitative evidence on the socio-economic and family determinants of child maltreatment in Vietnam remains limited. This study examines the association between socio-economic and family-level risk factors and different forms of child abuse and neglect in urban Hanoi, Vietnam. Data were collected through a community-based survey of 300 parents and caregivers living with children under 18 years of age. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the independent effects of selected risk factors on four categories of maltreatment: minor physical abuse, severe physical abuse, very severe physical abuse, and child neglect. The results indicate that multiple structural and family-level factors significantly increase the likelihood of child maltreatment. Low household income and residential instability were strongly associated with very severe physical abuse. Severe abuse was linked to single-parent family structure, low parental education, and parental alcohol misuse. Residential instability and prior experiences of abuse emerged as significant predictors of child neglect. These findings highlight the importance of addressing socio-economic stressors and family vulnerabilities in child protection strategies and underscore the need for integrated, community-based social work interventions in Vietnam.