As discussed in Section 4 about 16 per cent of children are punished in an extremely
violent manner, but when asked about attitudes to parenting only one in four
mothers/primary caregivers believed that physical punishment is needed in order to bring
up children properly (UNICEF, 2010). The prevalence of violent discipline is highest among
children aged 5-9 but characteristics such as wealth, age of caregivers and household size
were not associated with the prevalence of violent discipline (these results are based on
simple correlations, not on multivariate regression analysis). Boys were only slightly more
likely to be subjected to violent discipline in about half of the countries. The UNICEF (2010)
recommendations include bringing about changes in norms, attitudes and behaviours to
safeguard children. The strengthening of legal frameworks, policies and services is seen as
an integral part in the prevention of and the response to violence against children.