A study on child abuse in Jamaica conducted by the None in Three (Ni3) Centre between 2018 and 2019 exposes the stark reality of a problem that has plagued this nation for too long.

According to the Ni3 researchers, the survey conducted among 7,182 children and young people aged between 9 and 17 found that more than 80 per cent of them had experienced at least one form of maltreatment inside the home.

They also found that approximately 70 per cent of children had been emotionally abused at least once by a parent, guardian, or other adult living in their home “making this the most frequently experienced type of maltreatment within the home”, the Ni3 Centre said.

Additionally, the researches said they found that almost half of children experienced three or more types of maltreatment within the home; almost two-thirds experienced corporal punishment at least once within the home; 22 per cent were physically abused by a parent, guardian, or other adult living in their home; 10 per cent experienced non-contact sexual abuse; five per cent suffered contact sexual abuse from a parent, guardian or other adult living in their home; 50 per cent of the children reported being subjected to emotional neglect; 20 per cent medical neglect; and 10 per cent physical neglect.

These are worrisome findings, especially given the Ni3’s acknowledgement of a previous study by Gwenllian Moody, et al, who concluded that “emotional abuse is among the least studied, understood, and publicised type of maltreatment, which can lead to under-reporting as children do not interpret the acts as abusive”.

The findings also support our position stated in this space last week that, although the country has made considerable strides — legislative and otherwise — to protect our children, much more needs to be done as there are evil individuals who continue to prey on the more vulnerable among us.

Against that background, we commend Dr Michael Abrahams who has added his influential voice to efforts by State agencies, private organisations and individuals to crack down on this problem.

Dr Abrahams, a well-respected consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, has, over many years, demonstrated the type of social responsibility that helps to make a difference in the lives our people.

He has again stepped forward on this issue of child abuse, this time utilising his admirable musical talent to create a music video encouraging Jamaicans to speak out against child abuse.

The music video, called Break Di Silence, was launched last Thursday, in observance of Child Month, in partnership with the None in Three Centre — an international team of transdisciplinary researchers committed to the investigation and prevention of gender-based violence and child abuse and neglect.

Dr Abrahams has told us that, through his profession, he is seeing “the end results of childhood trauma”. That experience, we suspect, is not unique to him. As such, we cannot emphasise enough the importance of well-thinking citizens making it their duty to give assistance — including information — to those agencies tasked with the responsibility to protect the very young.

As Dr Abrahams correctly stated last week, “We have to break the silence; you can’t just see things and look the other way. It could be your child.”