Three-year analysis of suspected child abuse and neglect at a regional hospital in Oman.

Cohort studyEastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit· Aug 2026

Three-year analysis of suspected child abuse and neglect at a regional hospital in Oman.

Shamsa Al Balushi, Ronald Wesonga

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Child Abuse PediatricsCohort studyQ3IF 1.4

Neglect was more common in boys than girls among suspected child abuse cases.

Three-year analysis of suspected child abuse and neglect at a regional hospital in Oman.

Shamsa Al Balushi, Ronald Wesonga

Eastern Mediterranean health journal · Aug 2026 · Q3 in General Medicine

Background

Evidence on the patterns and sociodemographic characteristics of suspected child abuse and neglect in Oman remains limited, particularly outside the national capital region.

Purpose

To assess the patterns and sociodemographic characteristics of suspected child abuse and neglect cases at a regional hospital in Oman.

Methods

We collated and analysed data on suspected child abuse and neglect cases among children aged 0-18 years from Rustaq Hospital, Oman, for the period August 2020 to August 2023.

n = 256 suspected cases

Results

boys had neglect far more often than girls

Neglect - Boys

69.2%

Neglect - Girls

48.9%

Sexual abuse - Girls

34.5%

Sexual abuse - Boys

11.1%

More results

Neglect was most frequently reported (58.2%) among the 256 suspected cases, especially among children aged 0-4 years.

Physical and sexual abuse were more frequent among older children, and emotional abuse among children from single-parent households.

More results

Overall, abuse type was significantly associated with age, sex and parental marital status.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Age, sex and parental marital status were associated with patterns of suspected child abuse and neglect in this regional hospital.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Strengthening early detection, family support and targeted prevention may help improve child protection in this setting.

Three-year analysis of suspected child abuse and neglect at a regional hospital in Oman.

Three-year analysis of suspected child abuse and neglect at a regional hospital in Oman.

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