PREDICTORS OF CHILD ABUSE IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF LAGOS STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

It has been observed that a lot of Children are out of School in Nigeria as a result of Child abuse cause by cultural
practices, Parent’s level of Education, Child Gender and single Parenthood. This study therefore,investigates the
Cultural factors as predictors of Child abuse in selected Local Government Areas of Lagos State , Nigeria. The
descriptive survey research was used for the study. Random sampling technique was used to select sixty Parents (60)
from each of the 30 Local Government Areas selected in Lagos State, Nigeria. A self develop Questionnaire of 0.0671
reliability level was used for data collection. Three hypotheses were tested while Chi-Square statistics was used to test
the hypotheses at P<0.05 alpha level. The findings revealed all the hypotheses were rejected meaning that Parents level
of Education, single Parenthood and Child Gender are predictors of Child abuse in Lagos State, Nigeria.. Based on
these finding, recommendations were made on how Government at all levels should enact laws which will make Child
abuse an illegal act, create more awareness through Television and Radio stations, Town criers etc on the risk of Child
abuse and ways to prevent/control it.