PATTERNS AND INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN LAGOS METROPOLIS
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PATTERNS AND INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN LAGOS METROPOLIS
Chapter one
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Child abuse has become a global issue that must be addressed if children are to have the right to an education and independence. Child abuse has received major attention in many regions of the world, including Nigeria. Given this earnest effort, one would expect this menace to go away (Alexander, 2009).
Child abuse occurs in Nigeria, although it has gotten little attention. This is likely owing to the emphasis on the more common childhood concerns of hunger and illness. Another probable explanation is the widespread belief that in every African civilisation, the extended family system always offers love, care, and protection for all children.
However, some traditional child-rearing practices have a negative impact on some children, such as the wilful neglect or abandonment of seriously disabled children, as well as twins or triplets in rural communities.
Rapid socioeconomic and political changes have altered society, resulting in the identification of numerous forms of child abuse, particularly in urban areas.
These may be regarded the result of abnormal relationships between the child, parents/guardians, and society. They include the dumping of normal infants in cities by unmarried or very impoverished mothers, increased child labour and exploitation of children from rural areas in urban elite households, and mistreatment of children in urban nuclear families by childminders.
Preventive strategies include the development of infrastructure and economic opportunities in rural regions to prevent the young population from migrating to cities.
This would preserve the supportive role of the extended family system, which is quickly deteriorating. There is a need for more effective legal protection for disabled children, as well as increased awareness of child abuse in the community among health and social workers (Brunk, Henggeler, and Whelan, 1997).
A child is someone who has not reached the age of 18. For ages, Nigerian children have been viewed as instruments or property with no inherent rights. Traditional African society believed that children should only be seen and not heard. Children were not allowed to listen to or contribute to adult discussions/conversations.
This scenario was not only common in society, but it also permeated the education system. As a result, teachers only contributed when they felt it was necessary (Chang, Theodore, Martin, & Runyan, 2008).
Recently, there has been widespread concern about children, with the recognition that they play an essential role in the family and society. It is widely accepted that children are the future generation, tomorrow’s leaders, and prospective flag bearers for any country. To carry out these obligations, the child’s rights must be preserved and not violated or denied (Craig and Sprang, 2007).
kid abuse is described as causing or enabling any hurtful or offensive physical contact on a kid’s body, as well as any conversation or transaction that humiliates, shames, or frightens the youngster. Some child development specialists go a step further, defining child abuse as any act or omission that fails to nourish or raise children (Currie and Spatz, 2010).
Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Dunn, Culhane, and Tassig (2010) define child abuse and neglect as: at the very least, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or carer that results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, or an act or failure to act that poses an imminent risk of serious harm.
Child abuse and neglect can affect any child, regardless of age, gender, colour, religion, or social status. Many reasons might lead to the occurrence of child abuse and neglect.
Parents who abuse drugs or alcohol may be more inclined to mistreat their children. Some parents may be unable to cope with the stress caused by the changes and may struggle to care for their children (Eisen, Goodman, Qin, Davis, and Crayton, 2007).
Achilles (2000) defines child abuse as physical or emotional injury inflicted on children by parents, guardians, or other adult members of society. In the United States, for example, physical abuses per million persons are reported annually.
A similar number of cases of serious neglect are documented. One-third of all types of child abuse impact children under one year old, one-third between the ages of one and three, and one-third over three years old.
Every country in the world has legislation requiring physicians and other professionals to report suspected child abuse (Greenberg, Warwar, and Malcolm, 2008).
Oloko (2005) believes that the extent and regularity of child abuse neglect have drawn global attention. For example, she states that protecting children from all sorts of abuse has been a major crusade in our society and abroad.
According to her, symposia were held in Lagos and other locations to commemorate African Child’s Day, and people took part. UNICEF representatives were not left out.
Furthermore, other organisations, such as the Organisation for African Unity (QUA) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), frowned on this societal problem.
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