Physical Child Abuse and Implications for Household Social Wellbeing in Uganda

Abstract

Physical child abuse remains a significant yet under-theorized dimension of gender-based violence within household environments, particularly in low- and middle-income contexts. This paper presents a qualitative thematic synthesis of interdisciplinary literature to examine how violent caregiving practices intersect with gender relations, cultural disciplinary norms, and socioeconomic constraints in shaping children’s social wellbeing in Uganda. Drawing on Social Learning Theory and Feminist Theory, the analysis demonstrates that physical child abuse is sustained through intergenerational transmission of coercive norms, gendered household authority structures, and structural inequalities that constrain positive parenting environments (Bandura, 1977; Heise, 2011). The review highlights the developmental consequences of violent discipline for psychological wellbeing, educational participation, and social integration, with implications for long-term socioeconomic trajectories (Gershoff & Grogan-Kaylor, 2016; Meinck et al., 2015). The paper argues for reconceptualizing physical child abuse as an embedded component of gender-based violence frameworks and emphasizes the need for integrated policy responses addressing normative change, gender inequality, and social protection.