Child abuse in igboland of nigeria: context and characteristics

• Author: U. B. Chidi/Z. Formella
• Position: Università Pontificia Salesiana, Roma/Università Pontificia Salesiana, Roma
• Pages: 197-208

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşo v

Series VII: Social Sciences • Law • Vol. 12(61) No. 2 – 2019

https://doi.org/10.31926/but.ssl.2019.12.61.2.2

CHILD ABUSE IN IGBOLAND OF NIGERIA:

CONTEXT AND CHARACTERISTICS

U. B. CHIDI1 Z. FORMELLA2

Abstract: Igboland is located in south-eastern Nigeria and the inhabitants

are known for the love they have for children. These children depend on their

parents, teachers and extended families for both their physical and

psychological well-being. The interaction that the children have with their

parents and others influences their physical, emotional, social and

intellectual development. Some parents with the intention of teaching

values, beliefs, attitudes end up abusing them because of the type of

disciplinary methods that they apply. In Igboland, some parents and those

who are in charge of children find it hard to detect and identify child abuse

and its characteristics. Most of the children who are abused in Igboland

display some of the characteristics that are discussed in this work. This paper

will help parents and the society to watch for red flags.

Key words: child abuse, characteristics, Igboland.

1. Introduction

The Igbo ethnic group is located in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. The Igbo people

are divided into clans. The different clans make up the towns, while each town consist of

villages. The basic family structure includes the nuclear family and the extended family

members. The family is the foundation of Igbo society and it plays a vital role in the

upbringing of a child. The family nurtures the child so that he or she raise to be

psychologically balanced. In most of the Igbo f amilies, there are norms which guide

them and sometimes these norms constitute part of the problem of child abuse in

Igboland. Parents, adults and caregivers sometimes exceed the borderline of discipline

which affects the psychological well-being of the child. Nevertheless, the point remains

that inadequate child rearing in Igboland often lead to child abuse. It is prevalent in

Igboland and remains a neglected issue (Ayinmode & Ade gunoye, 2011). Nowadays

people are beginning to speak out on the issue.

Child abuse and child neglect as major topics h ave received a lot of attention both

from the government and non-governmental organisation. For a relatively long time a

good number of researchers and psychologists have been trying to understand the

1 Università Pontificia Salesiana, Roma, ototo4u@yahoo.com

2 Università Pontificia Salesiana, Roma, formella@unisal.it