Study on Violence against Children in Bulgaria Volume I: Prevalence of violence against children and related knowledge, attitudes and practices among children and adults in Bulgaria ©Shutterstock Volume I: Prevalence of VAC and related knowledge, attitudes and practices Table of Contents Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................... 2 Table of Figures ........................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements ...................................................................................................................... 6 List of Acronyms ........................................................................................................................... 7 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Survey objectives ...................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Context and background to the study ........................................................................................ 9 1.2.1 Bulgarian demographic and socio-economic context ..................................................................................... 9 1.2.2 Global context of violence against children .................................................................................................. 13 1.2.3 Bulgarian context of violence against children ............................................................................................. 16 1.3 Research questions ................................................................................................................. 17 2 Key concepts and definitions ............................................................................................... 19 2.1 Child ....................................................................................................................................... 19 2.2 Violence .................................................................................................................................. 19 2.3 Key definitions of violence in Bulgarian law ............................................................................. 20 3 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Sampling approach .................................................................................................................. 22 3.1.1 Multi-stage sampling design ......................................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Piloting, testing and training .................................................................................................... 24 3.3 Fieldwork ................................................................................................................................ 24 3.3.1 Data entry and quality controls .................................................................................................................... 24 3.4 Data analysis ........................................................................................................................... 24 3.5 Limitations and challenges ...................................................................................................... 25 3.6 Ethical considerations ............................................................................................................. 26 3.6.1 Informed consent .......................................................................................................................................... 26 3.6.2 Ethics review ................................................................................................................................................. 26 3.6.3 Ethical standards ........................................................................................................................................... 26 4 Demographic characteristics of research participants .......................................................... 27 5 Physical violence ................................................................................................................. 32 5.1 Legal and policy context .......................................................................................................... 32 5.2 Findings: physical violence ....................................................................................................... 33 5.2.1 Physical violence in the home ....................................................................................................................... 34 5.2.2 Physical violence at school ............................................................................................................................ 39 5.2.3 Physical violence in the community .............................................................................................................. 41 5.2.4 Physical violence against children: knowledge and attitudes ....................................................................... 42 2 Volume I: Prevalence of VAC and related knowledge, attitudes and practices 6 Emotional violence .............................................................................................................. 44 6.1 Legal and Policy Context .......................................................................................................... 44 6.2 Findings: emotional violence ................................................................................................... 44 6.2.1 Emotional violence at home ......................................................................................................................... 45 6.2.2 Emotional violence at school ........................................................................................................................ 48 6.2.3 Emotional violence in the community .......................................................................................................... 49 6.2.4 Stalking .......................................................................................................................................................... 50 6.2.5 Online harassment and abuse ...................................................................................................................... 51 6.2.6 Emotional violence against children: knowledge and attitudes ................................................................... 52 7 Sexual violence .................................................................................................................... 54 7.1 Legal and Policy Context .......................................................................................................... 54 7.2 Findings: sexual violence ......................................................................................................... 54 7.2.1 Perpetrators of sexual violence .................................................................................................................... 56 7.2.2 Sexual violence risk and protective factors ................................................................................................... 57 7.2.3 Sexual violence against children: knowledge and attitudes ......................................................................... 59 8 Neglect ............................................................................................................................... 61 8.1 Legal and Policy Context .......................................................................................................... 61 8.2 Findings: neglect ..................................................................................................................... 61 9 Co-occurrence of violence .................................................................................................... 64 10 Impact of violence: safety and wellbeing .......................................................................... 65 10.1 Feelings of safety .................................................................................................................... 65 10.2 Wellbeing ............................................................................................................................... 66 10.3 Mental health and risky behaviours ......................................................................................... 67 10.4 Perpetration of violence .......................................................................................................... 68 11 Seeking help for VAC ........................................................................................................ 70 11.1 Knowledge of and attitudes towards sources of help among children and young people ........... 70 11.2 Help seeking preferences among children ................................................................................ 70 11.3 Attitudes towards services and authorities protecting children from violence ........................... 72 11.4 Help seeking knowledge and attitudes: parents and caregivers ................................................ 72 12 Conclusions .....................................................................................................................