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INFLUENCE OF PARENTAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS ON THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN EDUCATION ZONE

Abstract

The study sought to find out the influence of parental socio-economic status on the incidence of child abuse and neglect among primary school pupils in Aguata education zone of Anambra State. Three major attributes of socio-economic status (parents’ income, parents’ education and parents’ occupation) were considered. The study adopted Ex-post facto research design. Three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Sample consisted of 618 primary six pupils drawn from schools in Aguata education zone through simple random sampling. The instrument used for data collection was parental socio-economic status and incidence of child abuse and neglect questionnaire. The overall reliability coefficient of the instrument was found to be 0.83. Data collected were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The finding of the study revealed that parents’ level of income significantly
influences the incidence of child abuse and neglect. It was also revealed that parents’ level of education significantly influences the incidence of child abuse and neglect. Furthermore, it was discovered that parent’s occupation significantly influences the incidence of child abuse and neglect. The implications of the findings were discussed and appropriate suggestions and recommendations were made.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Procreation is a phenomenon that ensures the survival and continuity of a nation. However, the rearing pattern of the children that are products of wedlock is a crucial task that is significant in determining the quality of citizens that make up a particular society. It is disappointing to note that juvenile cases and other social vices that characterized our society today are traceable to bad child patterns of many homes. Children who have passed through such homes were either battered, abandoned, or abused in any other form. They were consequently toughened and eventually become liabilities to the community rather than assets. In Nigeria today, the rate of child abuse and neglect have assumed a worrisome and alarming proportion (Semenitani, 1998).

Children are regarded as precious gifts from God. It is rather outrageous and unfortunate that these same children are subject to abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect is one of the most rampant societal malaise facing societies today. The ill-treatment of children by those who are supposed to care for them has been recognized as a major problem in child upbringing in the society. Child abuse and neglect is a prevalent problem all over the world and Nigeria is no exception. There is no commonly accepted definition of child abuse and neglect. Ohia, Soronnadi, Udemezue and Okonkwo, (2002) define child abuse and neglect; as a situation in which a child is suffering serious physical injury, which was not inflicted upon him by accident, but by a deliberate act or omission, is suffering harm by reason of neglect, malnutrition or sexual abuse, is growing without necessary and basic physical care, and is growing-up under conditions, which threaten his physical and emotional survival (P. 3).

According to Jones (1982), child abuse and neglect are seen as two separate phenomenons. He defines child abuse as inflicting serious physical, physiological and sexual injury on children through non accidental means, while child neglect on the other hand is defined as endangering physical, mental or emotional condition of children through improper care. Crystal (1995) linking both child abuse and neglect, opined that child abuse may be physical, sexual, emotional or through neglect. National Child Rights Implementation Committee (NCRIC,1995) defines child abuse and neglect as any form of cruelty to a child’s physical, moral or mental well-being. According to the Department of Justice, Canada (2001), the term child abuse refers to the violence, maltreatment or neglect that a child or adolescent may experience while in the care of someone they either trust or depend on, such as parents, siblings, other relatives caregivers or guardians.

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