Selected Socio-demographic Factors as a Correlates of Child Abuse and Neglect among Parents in Ibadan, Oyo State

Abstract

This study examined four socio-demographic factors associated with child abuse among parents in Ibadan metropolis which include: economic status, large family size, parent's upbringing and single parenthood. The descriptive survey research design was used. Simple random sampling techniques was used to select two thousand and sixty three subjects from the five metropolitan local government areas in Ibadan viz: Ibadan North, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North West, Ibadan South East, Ibadan South West. Chi-square was used to test the four hypotheses set at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study established that factors examined contributed significantly to the incidence of child abuse among parents in various degrees. It was recommended that government at all levels should pursue their poverty reduction and eradication programmes with vigour to stop child abuse due to poverty; population and family life education is necessary for all citizens to create awareness on the need to control family size for improved quality life; religious institutions should concentrate attention on premarital counseling and organize conferences, seminars and workshops focused on acquisition of parenting skills so as to stop or at least reduce the cases of child abuse associated with poor patterns of child rearing.