SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF CHILD ABUSE IN NYANYA, ABUJA MUNICIPAL AREA COUNCIL FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY-NIGERIA

Child abuse as a phenomenon is as old as mankind. Over years, every society has unceasingly been challenged by cases of child abuse. This study is a sociological analysis of child abuse in Nyanya, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory-Nigeria. A social survey design was adopted. A sample of 375 respondents was drawn, using convenient sampling technique. Primary and secondary data were utilized in the study. The primary data were generated through the use of questionnaires. The questionnaires were analyzed quantitatively using tables, frequency and percentage. The results show that poverty is the chief causes of child abuse and physical abuse is the most amongst form of child abuse in the study area. It is based on this that the study recommends that Federal Government should provide more employment opportunities so that parents who engaged their children in child abuse would have reliable sources of income and basic education should be truly made free in all Nigerian states as some parents who engage their children in day hawking do so to enable them raise their school fees. Government and relevant authorities should make more moves toward achieving and/or realizing the aims of UBE (Universal Basic Education) programme.