Perspectives of Key Informants on Child Abuse: Qualitative Evidence from Northern Ghana
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Perspectives of Key Informants on Child Abuse: Qualitative Evidence from Northern Ghana Mavis Dako‑Gyeke1 Published online: 10 July 2018 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018
Abstract Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this study aimed to explore key informants’ views about child abuse. Using a qualitative research design, thirty key informants participated in the study. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and In-depth Interviews (IDIs) were conducted to gather data, which were analyzed thematically. The findings of the study indicated that children were discouraged from being assertive. Also, it was found that key informants had knowledge of child abuse, the variant types, as well as perpetrators and victims of child abuse. Furthermore, different factors (poverty, cultural and religious beliefs, ignorance of child protection laws, among others) were described by key informants as underpinning the occurrence of child abuse. Moreover, evidence showed that generally, child abuse cases were not reported due to barriers, such as concerns about consequences of reporting, poverty, family ties, stigmatization and unavailability or lack of support systems. Based on the findings of the study, conclusions were drawn and implications discussed. Keywords Ghana · Abuse · Children · Protection · Physical · Psychological/verbal · Sexual Child abuse is a disturbing, pervasive, social and public health problem, as well as a children’s rights issue in many countries around the world. Annually, about 95 million children experience abuse globally, with the highest rates reported in the African region (United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF 2014). Although child abuse is a widespread and major threat to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in many African countries, including Ghana, the number of children on the continent who are abused has always been underestimated (Badoe, 2017). Despite the different cultural definitions of child abuse, experiencing abuse during childhood could lead to a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and social problems, as well as impaired health and even death (Mutavi, Obondo, Mathai, Kokonya, & Dako-Gyeke, 2018; Shaffer, Yates, & Eageland, 2009). The World Health Organization (WHO, 1999) defined child abuse as all forms of physical and/or emotional illtreatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation that result in actual or * Mavis Dako‑Gyeke MDako‑[email protected]; [email protected] 1
Department of Social Work, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 419, Legon, Accra, Ghana
probable harm to children’s health, survival, development or self-worth in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power. It comprises any type of maltreatment inflicted on children under the age of 18 years in their interactions with adults and such maltreatment could cause enduring harm to children (Lazenbatt, 2010). It is important that definitions of child abuse take into consideration different standa
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