Child Maltreatment In Nigeria: Implications For Intervention

Abstract

In recent years, the number of children that have suffered maltreatment has increased world-wide. This paper argues that when professionals are conversant with forms of child abuse in their environment and understand the emotional, psychological, physical and developmental problems that children endure because of abusive episodes, dedicated effort would be made to curb cases of child abuse. The basic features of approaches for preventing child abuse that cut across the family, school and community of the subject of such interventions are outlined. Finally, the paper suggests the need for effective collaboration of these preventive strategies in policy making and their adaptation by social workers to suit the needs of troubled Nigerian families. African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 11 (1&2) 2008: pp. 320-339