EXAMINING THE PREVALENCE OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN IN ANAMBRA STATE

EXAMINING THE PREVALENCE OF PHYSICAL ABUSE AGAINST CHILDREN IN ANAMBRA STATE

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

 

1.1 Background of the Study

Child physical abuse—defined as the nonaccidental use of physical force resulting in harm or risk of harm—is a pervasive public-health and human-rights issue worldwide (Berkowitz, 2017). In Nigeria, national surveys suggest that up to 50% of children experience some form of physical punishment or violence at home (Lansford et al., 2021). However, region-specific data remain sparse. Anambra State—with its mix of urban centers and rural communities—presents a unique context in which cultural norms around discipline, socioeconomic pressures, and gaps in child-protection services intersect (Christian & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2015).

 

Research indicates that in many Nigerian households, corporal punishment is socially sanctioned and often distinguished from abuse, complicating efforts to measure true prevalence (Glick, Lorand, & Bilka, 2016). Studies from comparable settings highlight that early physical abuse correlates with adverse adult outcomes—including mental-health disorders, substance use, and intergenerational violence—underscoring the urgency of accurate assessment (Afifi et al., 2016; Lansford et al., 2021).

 

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Despite indications that physical abuse of children is widespread in Anambra State, reliable prevalence data are lacking. Without systematic epidemiological studies, policymakers, child-welfare agencies, and community leaders cannot design targeted prevention and intervention programs. This study seeks to fill that gap by quantifying the prevalence of physical abuse among children aged 6–17 in both urban and rural Anambra communities.

 

1.3 Objectives of the Study

To determine the prevalence rate of physical abuse among school-aged children in Anambra State.

 

To identify sociodemographic and familial factors associated with increased risk of physical abuse.

 

To provide evidence-based recommendations for prevention, reporting mechanisms, and community education.

 

1.4 Research Questions

What proportion of children aged 6–17 in Anambra State report experiencing physical abuse?

 

Which factors—such as parental education, household income, or urban/rural residence—are significantly associated with abuse prevalence?

 

What community-based strategies can effectively reduce the incidence of child physical abuse in this context?

 

1.5 Significance of the Study

Child-Protection Agencies & NGOs: Will gain robust data to tailor prevention and outreach programs.

 

Policy Makers & Health Authorities: Evidence for crafting regulations and allocating resources to child-welfare services.

 

Families & Educators: Increased awareness of risk factors can inform parenting practices and school-based interventions.

 

1.6 Scope and Limitation of the Study

Scope: Cross-sectional survey of children aged 6–17 in selected urban and rural local government areas of Anambra State.

 

Limitations:

 

Self-Report Bias: Children may underreport abuse due to fear or stigma.

 

Cultural Variability: Definitions of “abuse” may vary across communities, affecting comparability.

 

1.7 Definition of Terms

Physical Abuse: Intentional use of physical force against a child resulting in—or with the potential to result in—injury (Berkowitz, 2017).

 

Corporal Punishment: Culturally sanctioned physical discipline distinguished from abuse by intent and severity (Christian & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, 2015).

 

Prevalence Rate: The proportion of a population experiencing a specified condition within a defined time frame.

 

Risk Factors: Characteristics or conditions that increase the likelihood of physical abuse (Glick, Lorand, & Bilka, 2016).

 

Child-Protection Services: Formal mechanisms—governmental or NGO—that investigate abuse reports and provide support to affected children and families.

 

List of References

Afifi, T. O., MacMillan, H. L., Boyle, M., Cheung, K., Taillieu, T., Turner, S., & Sareen, J. (2016, March). Child abuse and physical health in adulthood.

 

Berkowitz, C. D. (2017). Physical abuse of children. New England Journal of Medicine, 376(17), 1659–1666.

 

Christian, C. W., & Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. (2015). The evaluation of suspected child physical abuse. Pediatrics, 135(5), e20150356.

 

Glick, J. C., Lorand, M. A., & Bilka, K. R. (2016). Physical abuse of children. Pediatrics in Review, 37(4), 146–158.

 

Lansford, J. E., Godwin, J., McMahon, R. J., Crowley, M., Pettit, G. S., Bates, J. E., … Dodge, K. A. (2021). Early physical abuse and adult outcomes. Pediatrics, 147(1).