Abstract
Violent forms of discipline (VFD) used in homes and schools to correct children's behaviour have significant long-term consequences, leading to their prohibition in most countries. This study focused on understanding school children's perspectives on VFD. A community-based cross-sectional study surveyed 16 to 19-year-olds using random sampling. Out of 1130 participants, 60.7% reported experiencing violent punishment at least once during a school term. Physical punishment was most common (64.5%), followed by psychological methods (27.1%). Interestingly, 85% of students were aware of their rights under the child's charter, and all knew emergency contact numbers. An overwhelming 86.3% preferred alternative disciplinary methods, believing VFD negatively impacts their future development. Participants with better knowledge supported legal measures against VFD (P < .05). The differences in prevalence when compared to other studies indicate that cultural background might influence acceptance of such practices. These findings underscore the importance of promoting non-violent disciplinary strategies to safeguard children's well-being and development.