Child Abuse And Neglect In Gyel District Of Jos South Local Government Area

Project and Seminar Material for Sociology

Abstract

The research work analyses the cause of child abuse and neglect. The various form of child abuse and their impact on the child and the society. Child abuse and neglect leads to denial of the child’s right which includes: education, food, health, medical care etc. to determine the trend and pattern of child abuse and neglect, identifying factors that lead parents/guardians engaging in abusing their children.

Questionnaires were distributed to respondents in the study area. Data obtained and were presented analyzed. The analysis showed that the socio-economic status of parent is a major factor that make parents to abuse their children, educationally, emotionally, and use them as hawkers, beggars etc. Other factors include level of education of parents, inability of government to meet up its citizens’ needs, lack of legislation against child abuse and neglect, parenting style. Child abuse and neglect exposes children to danger that can influence their social behaviour thus, leading to juvenile delinquency which contributes to social menace in the society.

The government should ensure that the social-economic status of parents is improved so that they can not abuse nor neglect their children.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

The concepts of child abuse and child neglect are forms of maltreatment on the child that impedes child survival, development and participation. Children are seen as assets to parents and government because they are human resources that any society can boast of, therefore, parents and government invest in them in order to obtain better tomorrow. This can be achieved however, if their early child socialization is devoid of harmful cultural practices that crippled their chances of survival, development and participation.

Ejikeme (1987) defines child abuse as a problem arising from the intention of an adult to carry out an act that is inimical or detrimental to the physical, intellectual, language, emotional, moral and social development of a child; while child neglect which involves some degree of deprivation refers to an intentional failure of an adult to perform physical, cognitive, moral and social development of a child.

However, it is imperative to note in this premise that what constitute child maltreatment in one society may not be considered same in another society, this is because of cultural differences an belief, practices. From the above, it will be important to trace the fact that there might be different factors that caused child abuse and neglect since the application of cultural ideology is not universal; that is, it changes across societies.

However, different forms of child maltreatment exist like: child trafficking, street begging, street hawking, child discrimination or child preference, early marriage, prostitution, child labour, use of virgin girl-child for ritual/sacrifice etc. despite tangible evidences or empirical indicators of child abuse and neglect, it is difficult to measure.

This is so because it is recognized as a major social problem that occurs in all levels of social class, race, religion and ethnic groups. It is important to note that the practice of child abuse and neglect is supported by government indirectly when the individual is seen as a product of the society.

Poor socio-economic status of parents trace its roots through unemployment and destitution as government does not address social inequality, unemployment and poverty amongst its citizens, instead people in position work towards actualizing their selfish ends and those who cannot meet the society values through the legitimate means result to deviance and crime as postulated by Robert K. Merton, Alemika and Best (1988) argues that our past successive state Governors/Administrators both military and Politicians, business individuals, foreigners etc who loot billions of Naira from the country’s treasury and precipitate years of economic crisis, political instability etc are hardly arrested, prosecuted nor jailed, instead they are rewarded with Chieftaincy tittles, honorary degrees, ministerial appointments, contracts and the like.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Forms of child maltreatment like; child abandonment, child abduction, child trafficking, street begging, street hawking, child labour, prostitution, early marriage and the like, deteriote and cause a total decay of the society. This foster insecurity and anarchy as a result of inadequate means of meeting legitimate goals or values of the society. This jeopardizes not only the immediate children but further endangers our future continuum and a tactical genocidal wipe of humanity since child maltreatment maimed the survival, development and participation of the child.

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The research at glance intent to critically analyzes, appraises and examines the impact of negative attributes of child abuse and neglect on the individual, families and the society.

The specific objectives are:

Determine the impact of child abuse and neglect on the child.
Determine the relationship between child abuse, child neglect and crime.
Determine the roles of parents and government in curbing the menace.
Determine the influence of culture in propagating child abuse and neglect.
Make appropriate recommendations to the government.

1.4 Significance of Study

Child abuse and child neglect are social problems that affects a significant number of people about which something need to be done. This menace deters technological advancement and waste a lot of wisdom and talents. This study however, would help reduce the number of people affected through adequate mobilization and campaign against this catastrophe. This study would also help in legislating against the catastrophe. This study would provide a data bank that serve as literature for further use by scholars.

1.5 Scope and Limitations of Study

This study was restricted to Gyel district of Jos south local government area; this is to provide the researcher access to sample a particular target population to ensure meaningful work.

Chapter Five

Summary, Recommendations and Conclusion

5.1 Summary of Findings

Child abuse is a social problem that requires urgent attention because of its negative consequences and risk it posses on the Nigerian child. Educating the Nigerian Child is brightening the future of Nigeria in global competition most especially with class consciousness in developed and developing countries dichotomy.

However, it is imperative to note that what constitutes child maltreatment in one society may not be considered same in another society because of cultural variations, but empirical indicators give tangible evidences that can be tackled from their sources.

From the data collected by the researcher, it can be seen that adequate measure should be taken to guard against child abandonment, child abduction, child trafficking, street begging, street hawking, child labour, prostitution, early marriage. This is because it can foster insecurity and anarchy capable of decaying the society. This menace deters technological advancement and wastes a lot of wisdom and talent untapped.

The data collected also points out that legislation on this matter can put to rest this menace. This legislation may check and exhaust ways which cultural practices, poverty and others can be adjusted to liberate the child from this ugly situation.

5.2 Recommendations

After the researcher had taken a thorough research work on Child Abuse and Neglect and has analyzed and interpreted the data. He came up with the following recommendations if which applied, will eradicate child abuse in the society and the country at large.

State legislation: The traditional method of child labour protection, child abuse and protection of child right is through legislative enactments, laws and regulations, prohibiting employment of children below certain age limit and specifying the conditions under which minor work.
The labour decree no. 21 of 1974 section 58 subsection 1, 2, 6 and 8 specifies that
No child below the age of 18 should be employed to work in any capacity except where he is employed by member of his family on light work or on agricultural, horticultural or domestic duties approve by commissioner in charge of labour matters
It also states that, not in any case should a child be allowed to lift, carry or move anything so heavy as to injure his/her physical development.
1. Section 2A – No young child under the age of 15 years should be employed in any industrial factory.
2. Section 6A – No young child shall be employed in any vacation which is injurious, dangerous or immoral to his/her health.
3. Section 8A – No young child under the age of 16 should be allowed to work for longer than four consecutive hours or permitted to work more than eight hours in one day.
In addition to the legislation act on the protection of young child in employment under the UN chapter and labour decree No. 21 of 1994 states that there should be an age limit to be fixed for children who hawk along the street, trade, market and also those who engage themselves as house help and domestic servants. Some in the second republic 16 years is the proposed age for this trading, hawking etc this relate particularly to girls, because by the time she gets to the age of 18 years she is supposed to be able to reason and differentiate between right and wrong. Also at that age, a girl is matured enough to know what she wants for herself as regards to men.
Government should develop and encourage formal and non-formal education and promote child welfare schemes.
Government should ban child labour and explicative condition and hazardous occupation in industries.
Government should also enhance employment and income opportunity among adult group and parents to reduce the dependence on child labour earning.
Workers, organization and employers should be involved in war against child labour, abuse and exploitation.
A co-ordinate and complementary action by the government and non governmental organization aimed at protecting the right of the child involving the mass media, religious bodies, schools and charitable organization as stated by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development should be enhanced. This will go along way towards enlightening the public on the dangers of child abuse and neglects as embarked upon by Brazil, Columbia, China and Philippian where Non-Governmental Organization Community groups play prominent roles on child protection. Therefore the war against child abuse and neglect should be a collective responsibility of all.
It is necessary to establish more child right monitory center throughout Nigeria to educate parent on the various right of their children and this will make them realize the danger they are exposing the children to when they send them out to go hawking for them under the guise of supplementing family income or getting money to pay school fees.
In view of the fact that a high proportion of abused children are drop out of school, the school curriculum needs to be enriched and made relevant to the needs of children in the particular community. The provision of scholarship for children that are abused but are intelligent would serve as an incentive that will reduce the drop-out rate.
It is also necessary to establish vocational training center for students who were abused and running the street or an institution. By so doing will prevent the children from such act.

5.3 Conclusion

In conclusion, child abuse is a social evil that masked the fact of the society which needs collective or collaborative effort in order to solve the situation. This scourge, apart from government effort it also depends on the individual’s families which have to complement willingly through governmental effort in order to eradicate these maltreatment.
The future of a nation depends on the child right protection through elimination of exploitative tendencies. It can be done through institutional formal attack by Professionals like Social Workers, Psychologists, and many others who may be involved in social planning policies that have direct bearing on the citizens.

There should also be a wide publicity that would proclaim the gospel against these social ills, because some parents do not see child abuse as a really source of set back to the child, they see that as the source of earning a living that may even better the lives of the children involved. Though, parents can change if educated on the dangers on their children’s social responsibilities. This could be done through proper orientation and perception to a new life-style that could enhance a better life for the children.

5.4 The Role of Social Workers in Ameliorating Child Abuse in the Nigerian Society

Social work is one of the helping professions, it is concern with the helping of individual, social groups and communities that are usually and economically disadvantage in the mobilizing or transforming appropriate resources within and outside their environment so as to solve social problems and enhance their quality of life.

The following are some ways in which the social workers can help in meliorating child abuse and neglect.

The social worker should educate parents and the general public on the effect of child abuse and neglect so as to bring a change in attitude towards children’s’ education that is to say, to stop withdrawing their children from school but to orient their attitudes towards educating them.
Social worker should help in awaking the consciousness of children to the need of developing positive self image and also educating parents on a healthy diet for their child and also promoting policies which ensure a clean environment.
Furthermore, social worker should generate sense of awareness so that, through counseling of parents, child abuse and neglect can be reduced or minimized and even stop the sale, abduction and child trafficking and also prohibit the abuse of children in whatever form.
Moreso, the social worker should sensitize and concertize the effect of child labour by helping in promoting policies and programmes that will encourage the full and free participation of children in recreational activities instead of abusing them.
The social worker should encourage the family and society at large to de-emphasize some cultural practices so as to ensure that children gain access to political aspect of human and child right.
They should have a systematic data for policy making so that, policy makers could take the issue of child abuse and neglect into serious consideration by enacting laws that would adequately minimize the effect of child abuse and neglect in our society.
The social worker, by virtue of their training and experience in improving people’s welfare, preventing and ameliorating human suffering can use the media e.g radio house, newspapers to generate a climate of awareness, new ideas that can improve health conditions and stimulate modern infrastructural and agricultural activities or economy development thus creating employment opportunities.
Finally, social worker can promote people’s welfare by helping to prevent and ameliorating child abuse and neglect by helping parent to keep in touch with systems which enable them to obtain emotional and material resources and opportunities to cope with life, that is, help individual to develop their resources so as to improve their life.

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