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Fiona Sun

Child abuse can impair victims’ development and increase their risk of long-term health problems such as obesity and heightened inflammatory responses, a Hong Kong NGO has said, calling for a tiered prevention strategy to strengthen protections.
Against Child Abuse on Wednesday shared the results of an overview of local studies from recent years on the effects of abuse on children, while calling for more resources and enhanced measures to safeguard youngsters.
One cited study, published in 2024, involved 661 children and found that adverse caregiving experiences in early childhood were associated with altered growth patterns.
While more frequent neglect and psychological aggression contributed to greater subsequent reductions in body mass index, physical abuse was conversely linked to a higher likelihood of being overweight or obese, according to the study.
Another study, which followed 63 abuse victims, showed that those who were maltreated reported poorer maternal care during childhood, lower family support and heightened inflammatory responses years later compared with those without a history of abuse.
“Our children in Hong Kong are currently facing a very disadvantageous environment, including a continuously deteriorating family environment, which has consistently heightened the risk of child abuse, while family stress and family dysfunction are closely tied to the risk of children suffering abuse,” said Professor Patrick Ip Pak-keung of the University of Hong Kong, who was involved in both studies.
A third cited study, involving 232 pairs of mothers and children, found that repeat pregnancy within two years was associated with higher maternal stress and an increased risk of physical child abuse, leading to recurrent mistreatment and more hospital emergency department visits for youngsters.
Separate research also found that substance abuse among mothers was associated with an increased risk of physical child abuse.
Ip, who is part of the university’s paediatrics and adolescent medicine department and an executive committee member of Against Child Abuse, called for greater effort by families and wider society to protect youngsters.
“To effectively improve the health of children in high-risk families and reduce their risk of abuse, we must not only mobilise family strength, but more importantly, combine external support involving all sectors of society, schools and communities,” he said.


NGO director Maple Lau Siu-kwan highlighted the importance of raising parental awareness about the harms of harsh parenting. She called for more support for vulnerable carers, alongside early identification and intervention.
She suggested a three-tiered prevention strategy, with primary prevention focusing on a zero-tolerance approach to violence against children and supported by policies and measures such as promoting positive parenting skills and teaching youngsters how to protect themselves.
Secondary prevention would focus on early identification of at-risk families and intervention, while the tertiary tier would cover prevention of repeated abuse through professional intervention, Lau said.
The prevalence of child abuse in Hong Kong has worsened in recent years, with the NGO citing official data showing that recorded cases rose by 44 per cent from 940 in 2020 to 1,354 last year.
The group attributed the rise to factors such as the Covid-19 pandemic, socioeconomic stressors, parenting styles and greater public awareness.
In July 2024, lawmakers passed the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance, which requires 25 categories of professionals in the social welfare, education and healthcare sectors to report suspected cases of serious child abuse to authorities.
Under the ordinance, which took effect on January 20 this year, those who fail to make a report face up to three months in prison and a fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,400).
In his annual policy address last week, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the government was monitoring the implementation of the legislation to ensure adequate support measures were in place.


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Abused children at higher risk of long-term health problems, Hong Kong NGO warns

Against Child Abuse has shared the results of an overview of local studies from recent years on the effects of abuse on youngsters. Photo: Getty Images

Professor Patrick Ip of the University of Hong Kong has called for greater effort by families and wider society to protect youngsters. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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Hong Kong

Society

Against Child Abuse also calls for tiered prevention strategy, with primary focus on zero-tolerance approach and policy support


Against Child Abuse also calls for tiered prevention strategy, with primary focus on zero-tolerance approach and policy support.


Hong Kong children

Abused children at higher risk of long-term health problems, Hong Kong NGO warns

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Against Child Abuse also calls for tiered prevention strategy, with primary focus on zero-tolerance approach and policy support

Against Child Abuse also calls for tiered prevention strategy, with primary focus on zero-tolerance approach and policy support