CHILD ABUSE PRACTICES AMONG PARENTS IN ILORIN SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Abstract Despite the serious long-term health and economic consequences, child abuse is still a global problem that is deeply rooted in cultural, economic and social practices and is on the increase. Therefore, this study was designed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of child abuse among parents in Ilorin South Local Government Area, Kwara State. Cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted for this study. A Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 140 parents for the study. A modified standardized child abuse questionnaire was used in gathering data. Frequency count and percentages while SPSS version 22.0 were used to analyze the data collected and chi- square were used to test the research hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings from the study revealed that majority of the respondents were within the age group of 31-50 years and were married. 60 (42.9%) of the respondents were self-employed with 85 (60.7%) having 3-4 children. Despite the fact that majority of the respondents had high knowledge of child abuse, most of them still practice it. The study also revealed that there was significant relationship between practice of child abuse and the occupation of respondents with P<0.05. The study concluded that the practice of child abuse still exists in the Kwara State, Nigeria and of the parents’ occupation influences the practice of child abuse. Therefore, government should intensify efforts towards eradication of poverty in the country by creating job opportunities with good pay so that parents can adequately provide for their children.