Community perceptions of child displine and its contribitions to child abuse
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Date
1998-11Author
Mudany, Mildred A
Type
ThesisLanguage
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
A community based cross-sectional study was carried out in a peri-urban slum of
Nairobi called Kibera, between August 1997 and November 1997 using both
qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. The study involved
direct interview of parents, focus group discussions and key person interviews.
In the household survey, parents of children 18 years and below were interviewed
using a semi structured questionnaire. Key informants were selected from school
teachers, chiefs, child counsellors and health care personnel working within the
study area. A total of 538 persons were interviewed in the household survey
from three ethnic groups: Luo, Luhya and Nubi. Information obtained was
subjected to statistical analysis.
The objective was to determine the community perceptions of child discipline
and its contribution to child abuse.
The specific objectives included to determine: the perception of parents regarding
child discipline; the modes of discipline used and the circumstances in which
they are administered; what parents and community members perceive as
excessive discipline i.e. child abuse and the perception of key informants
regarding child discipline and c1i.ildabuse.
The results obtained were as follows: regarding perceived meanmg of child
discipline, 376 out of 538 (70%) understood this to mean showing love and
praising child for good deeds but punishing child for wrong-doing. One hundred
and eight (20%) of the study population understood discipline to mean beating of
a child whenever he does wrong; ninety (16.7%) believed children should be
punished for major wrong doing while 18 (3.3%) were of the opinion that
children should be left on their own. The purpose of discipline according to the
study population was to correct and train a child to have good behaviour with the
hope that they grow into responsible adults 395 (73%); to punish a child and
make him suffer to the maximum 46 (8.6%) and to make sure the child knows
who is in charge 16 (3%). The most commonly used techniques of disciplining
children were: caning 484 (90%), verbal reprimand 448 (83%), pinching 215
(40%), slapping 179 (33%) and denying food 104 (19%). Sixty seven (12%) of
the study population confessed having used obviously abusive methods of
disciplining which included: 'punching', kicking, biting, beating with nearest
object, burning, cutting with razor and chasing child away from home. Two
hundred and ninety six (55%) of the study population reported that their
neighbours used obvious abusive disciplinary measures. Burning as a
disciplinary measure was mainly used on a child who had stolen. Denial of food
was commonly used on children who refused to do what was required of them.
Amount and type of punishment given in most cases depended on seriousness of
offence 336 (62%), frequency of offence 151 (28%), age of child 115 (21 %), sex
of child 28 (5%) mood of the parent 24 (4%) and time of the day 10 (1.9%).
What the study population identified as excessive discipline or child abuse
included any disciplinary methods used which causes: fainting 348 (64%), death
345 (63%), bleeding 300 (55%), fractures 227 (42%), swelling 196 (36%), child
running away from home 192 (35%) and bruising 179 (33%). Both parents,
community and key informants clearly identified forms of discipline that could
be considered abusive.
The conclusions were:
1. Community perception of child discipline is inappropriate in about 20%
of the study population who understood child discipline to mean beating a
child whenever he/she does wrong.
2. The commonest mode of discipline used was canmg. Prevalence of
abusive forms of discipline in the study community was high: 12.6%
(self-reported) and 55% (reported by neighbours).
3. Both parents and key community informants were clearly able to identify
forms of discipline that could be considered abusive.
The recommendations made were that appropriate intervention should be made
using the results of this study as a basis: to include health education for
parents/guardians; a similar study on children as the recipients of discipline and
other similar studies in both urban and rural set ups should be done to find out
community perceptions of discipline.
Citation
Mudany, M A(1998).Community perceptions of child displine and its contribitions to child abusePublisher
Department of paediatrics, University of Nairobi
Description
Master of Medicine Thesis