45.6% of children in Costa Rica are disciplined with violence: UNICEF

November 21^st, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) According to a report issued yesterday by UNICEF and Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health, 45.6% of children living in Costa Rica are disciplined through the use of “physical or psychological violence.”

The statistic is part of a larger report that assessed the situation of women and children in the country in areas such as nutrition, child health, water and sanitation, literacy, child development, child protection, reproductive health and HIV.

According to the study, 45.6% of children between two and 14 years of age have been disciplined by the use of violence.  The report also revealed that 6% of children between 5 and 14 who attend school are also involved in child labor.

In the area of literacy, the study said that 99% of women between 15 and 24 are literate.

Other data said that only 33% of children are exclusively breastfed until 6 months, which it cited as a major concern.

The study was conducted in 8,000 homes across the country between September and November 2011.

“This information will be useful in strengthening the processes of policy design, giving us the evidence [required] for strategic planning and decision making,” said Health Minister, Daisy Corrales.