FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN WARRI METROPOLIS (GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS)
Background of the Study
One of the primary difficulties in addressing child abuse is how to define it. It is any form of physical, psychological, social, emotional and sexual maltreatment of a child whereby the survival, safety, self-esteem, growth, and development of the child are endangered (Alokan and Bimbola, 2010, P. 73). It is a social conduct injurious to the child in the process of interacting with parents and adults in the family. Child abuse refers to the harm that is done to children. Any action which impedes the child’s development should be considered as abuse. According to Royal Canadian Police (2006) child abuse is any form of physical psychological, social, emotional or sexual maltreatment of a child whereby the survival, safety, self-esteem, growth and development of the child are endangered. RCP goes further to say that there are four main types of child abuse they are neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Child abuse includes any behaviour which neglects the child’s survival and development needs, causes physical or emotional injury, harassment and subject the child to measures, situation and experiences which interfere with the healthy development towards adulthood. According to UNICEF child abuse and neglect are far more common in single-parent families than in families where both parents are present.
Sedkajm and Broadhurst (1996) stated that the growing empirical evidence on child abuse reveals new alarming and distinct patterns of familiar relationship that contribute greatly to this tragedy. In addition to poverty and community environment, the rising incidence of child abuse can be linked to one more factor: whether an abused child’s parents are married. Children react in different ways to the onset of divorce. Some will be extremely sad and show signs of depression and even sleeplessness. Anxiety levels peak as they feel they are going to be abandoned or rejected by one or even both parents. Some divorce situations make the child feel lonely. This may be due to a long absence of one of the parents. No matter what the situation, the child will be affected in some ways by divorce. Some children may become psychologically scarred from the experience.
