Child Maltreatment Among Asian and Pacific Islander Refugees and Immigrants

Abstract
The literature that focuses on cultural aspects of child maltreatment among Asian and Pacific Islander (API) immigrant groups is sparse. The literature on child maltreatment among API refugees is virtually nonexistent. This article attempts to address this void and reports the findings of a study on 158 cases of child maltreatment that were reported to and handled by the Union of Pan Asian Communities in San Diego, California. A utilization of both quantitative and qualitative strategies identified five possible parameters that may explain the patterns of reported child maltreatment in an Asian and Pacific Islander population: (a) home country traumas, especially notable among refugees; (b) differences in child-rearing practices; (c) the relative visibility to welfare professionals and other publicly employed professionals; (d) the relative continuity of social support systems brought from country of origin; and (e) the relative ability to cope with cultural conflicts brought on by being newcomers.

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