ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to determine psychological factors responsible for child abuse and neglect among parents in Keffi local government.
Child abuse is an offense that is committed by parent, caregivers or elderly neighbour against a child. It includes all types of child maltreatment, abuses and violation of Child's Right which can lead to major physical and psychological damage of the kid as well as death. Child abuse according to the African Network for the prevention and protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) specifies child abuse as the deliberate, unintended or well intentional acts which threaten the physical health, psychological, ethical and the academic welfare of children. Going by this meaning, wrongfully maltreating a child or selfishly making an unjust use of a child's service by adults responsible for the child makes up child abuse.
The study was conducted among parents in Keffi local government. The study adopted quantitative pilot survey that will be conducted by the researcher among parents in Keffi local government. A quantitative research method through structured questionnaire will be employed for data collection and analysis. The sample population for the study include all the parents in Keffi local government. Simple random sampling technique will be used to select 140 parents in Keffi local government as sample size.Data collected were presented in tables and the corresponding values expressed in percentages. Hypotheses were tested using correlation statistical approach.
Findings from the study reveal that there is a significant relationship between parents and children and act of child abuse and neglect in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Child factors or the parental perceptions such as aggression, attention deficits, difficult temperaments have been associated with increased risk for all types of child maltreatment. There is a significant correlation between associated family factors (stress, poverty, illiteracy, ignorance) and abuse and neglect Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. Individuals with poor parental role models or those who did not have their own needs met may find it very difficult to meet the needs of their children.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
For a very long time, child abuse has been recorded in literature, art and science in many parts of the world. The ill-treatment of children by those who are expected to take care of them has been acknowledged as a significant issue in child upbringing in the society. Child abuse is a common issue around the world and Nigeria is no exemption (Ojo and Ogundele, 2007).
Child abuse can be referred to as a crime of harming a child physically, sexually, or mentally (Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, 2009). Child abuse makes up all types of physical and/or psychological ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or various other exploitation, leading to actual or possible damage to the child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of obligation, trust or power (WHO, 2002). Child abuse can be described as the physical and psychological injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by an individual that is responsible for the child's welfare under situations which suggest that the child's health or well-being is harmed or endangered (Imo, 2015). Child abuse is the maltreatment of children by parents, friends, caregivers, guardians or other loved ones.
World Health Organisation recognizes four types of child abuse which are: physical misuse, sexual assault, psychological misuse and overlook. Physical misuse of a kid is specified as those acts of compensation by a parent/caregiver that trigger real physical damage or have the potential for damage. Sexual abuse can be defined as those acts where a parent/caregiver uses a child for sexual satisfaction. Sexual abuse happens when a child is used for sex-related purposes by an adult or adolescent. Psychological abuse includes the failure of a parent/caregiver to offer a suitable and helpful environment, and consists of acts that have an unfavorable impact on the psychological health and development of a child. Neglect describes the failure of a parent/caregiver to provide for the development of the child where the parent/caregiver is in a position to do so in one or more of the following areas: health, education, psychological development, nourishment, shelter and safe living conditions.
Nevertheless, with regards to section 2 of the Children and Young Person Law of Lagos State (1973), which offers the well-being of the Young and treatment of young offenders, a child is an individual under the age of fourteen (14) years. The Nigeria Labour act (1974) takes into consideration a child as an individual below fifteen (15) years old while the National Child Welfare Policy (1989) describes a child as anyone who is twelve (12) years old and below. This uncertainty trailing the meaning of a child under the Nigeria Law was lastly laid to rest by section 274 of the Child's Rights Act (2003) which specifies a kid as an individual that has not attained the age of eighteen years. It should nevertheless be kept in mind that this is according to convention on the Right of the child (CRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the child both to which Nigeria is a Signatory.
In the Nigerian society, Children are viewed as the gift of God. As a matter of fact, children are well admired, adorned and revered at and are usually considered one of the most valuable possessions. Nigerians certainly are people that aim to place high premium and accord special acknowledgment to their child.
Child abuse is an offense that is committed by parent, caregivers or elderly neighbour against a child. It includes all types of child maltreatment, abuses and violation of Child's Right which can lead to major physical and psychological damage of the kid as well as death. Child abuse according to the African Network for the prevention and protection Against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN) specifies child abuse as the deliberate, unintended or well intentional acts which threaten the physical health, psychological, ethical and the academic welfare of children. Going by this meaning, wrongfully maltreating a child or selfishly making an unjust use of a child's service by adults responsible for the child makes up child abuse.
According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies (2018) neglectful acts are defined by the lack of a parent or guardian which can result in physical damage, sexual abuse, or criminal behaviour; by the failure to offer the fundamental physical requirements, such as a safe and clean home; absence of providing medical care; absence of nurturance, motivation, and support; by the caregivers lack to provide an education and extra resources to actively take part in the school system; when the parent or guardian leaves a child alone for a long period of time without a babysitter or caretaker. Children who are victims of neglect have a harder time forming and maintaining relationships, such as romantic or friendship, later on in life as a result of the lack of attachment they had in their earlier stages of life according to Australian Institute of Family Studies.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
For some years now, the issue of child abuse has come to be fashionable in the Nigerian society and various other part of the world. Child abuse is a major issue that can make a child to develop haphazardly, mentally and academically. International organizations have revealed issues about child abuse and have shown that abused children lack the capacities to add to the development of his/her society. Nigerian society is still beset with cases of child labour, child maltreatment, child marriage, child trafficking, neglect, and child prostitution. The effects of such abuses are countless and differed including teenage pregnancies/mothers, youth restiveness and physical violence, cultism, youth decadence, joblessness, armed bandits, molestation, and school dropouts. Sadly, the rights of the child have not been fully taken into consideration by adult. Studies have disclosed that adults in most cases do not regard a few of their violent behaviors towards children as abusive, however viewed as restorative steps in the best interest of the child. These abuses are consequential impact of socio-economic condition (low or high), parenting style and peer pressure. Hence, the child might be maltreated, deprived, criticized and even abandoned in severe situations by parents, guardians or caregivers when she or he disobeys. Sadly, in spite of governmental policies, decrees, enactments and legislations on child's right, child abuse and neglect still persist. Thus, it is imperative for this study to examine the psychological factors responsible for child abuse and neglect among parents in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The main purpose of this study is to examine the psychological factors responsible for child abuse and neglect among parents in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. However, the specific objectives are:
- To understand the extent to which relationship between parents and children act as a factor of child abuse and neglect in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
- To examine the extent to which associated family factors (stress, poverty, illiteracy, ignorance) act as factors of child abuse and neglect Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
- To determine the implications and effects of child abuse and neglect on our society
1.4 Research Questions
The following statements were regarded as the research questions for this study:
- To what extent does relationship between parents and children act as a factor of child abuse and neglect in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State?
- To what extent do associated family factors (stress, poverty, illiteracy, ignorance) act as factors of child abuse and neglect Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State?
- What are the implications and effects of child abuse and neglect on our society?
1.5 Research Hypotheses
The research hypotheses include:
- There is a significant relationship between parents and children and act of child abuse and neglect in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
- There is a significant correlation between associated family factors (stress, poverty, illiteracy, ignorance) and abuse and neglect Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
1.6 Significance of the Study
This study will be of great importance as it will provide necessary information on the causes, effects and means to curtail or reduce the crime of child abuse and neglect in Nigeria. Apart from providing means and strategy for curtailing the prevalence of the crime of child abuse and neglect in our society, this study will also advocate for practical and conscientious moves towards the rehabilitation of children that have already been a victim of various forms of abuses. In practical terms, the findings of this study will bring to the fore; the inadequacies, deficiencies, flaws and other problems inherent in the enforcement of the Child’s Right Act 2003 and other laws on the rights of the child.
The crime of child abuse has received little attention from people in our society in time past. This study has hereby aimed at bringing the crime of child abuse into the limelight and also steps to take in curbing its menace.
This study is also aimed at analyzing the crime of child abuse and how it impacts on our society. The government and other policy makers will also find this work very handy in an attempt to find solutions to this problem. Similarly, this work will also assist law enforcement agencies in their bid to abate the crime of child abuse in Nigeria. And finally, this research will serve as veritable source of reference for students and researchers and those in related discipline for further research.
1.7 Scope of the Study
This study is on the psychological factors responsible for child abuse and neglect among parents in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Nigeria.
