An investigation into the incidents of child abuse in Kawangware slum area: counselling implications

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Date
2004
Authors
Kirubi, Josephine Audry Maina
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Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to establish the key incidents of child abuse among children in Kawangware slum area, point out the principal culprits in child abusive behaviour, compare child abuse rates between the rich and the poor and point out the principal indicators of an abused child. The following questions were considered: 1. Which are the most severe incidents of abuse against the children from Kawangware slum area? 2. Who are the perpetrators of acts of abuse against children? 3. (a) To what extent are the poor and rich children abused? (b) Is the variation in magnitude due to socioeconomic backgrounds of their homes? 4. Which indicators of abuse are particularly prevalent among children from Kawangware slum area? The sample of study comprised two hundred children, a hundred from underprivileged families and the other hundred from rich families. The sample stratum from the rich was collected by use of stratified random sampling procedure. The data was collected through a general questionnaire. r The following two hypothesis were tested: 1. Majority of the victims of child abuse are from low social class families. 2. More than 60% incidents of abuse are perpetrated against children by their own relatives. Frequencies, ranks, percentages and ratios were employed. These are necessary statistical tools in a descriptive survey like this study. The results of the percentages and ranks produced significance differences between the abuse rates in the two sub groups. The poor were reckoned to have very high magnitude of abusive behaviour. Implications of the findings were drawn and recommendations made to improve the situation.
Description
Department of Psychology, 109p. 2004
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