The aim of this study is to describe the pattern of child abuse, its management, and the characteristics of the abused and abusers in Bahrain. The retrospectively collected data included: demographic data such as age, sex, socioeconomic status, type of abuse, the place where it occurred, type of injuries and complications, management, and outcome. Data was also collected concerning the abusers' characteristics, such as age, sex, education, job, and relationship to the child. From June 1991 to July 2001, 150 children were seen in the Salmaniya Medical Complex with a diagnosis of child abuse and neglect. The mean age was 7 ± 4 years, and 53% were males while 47% were females. The pattern of physical abuse among this population is not different from other communities. Males were more likely to be physically abused than girls (63% vs. 37%, respectively). The abusers were males in 52% (females in 48%) of the cases. Thus, child physical and sexual abuse is well documented in Bahrain. This study shed light on the problem of child abuse in Bahrain from a rather biased sample from a tertiary care center.