The Impact of Child Abuse on Academic Performance of Pupils In Iganga District: A Case Study of Iganga Town Council

ABSTRACT

This study was done qualitatively to examine the impact of child abuse on the academic performance of children. The objectives of the study were to identify common types of child abuse, establish their causes and impact on children's

academic performance. It was conducted in five schools within Kibuli Parish that were randomly selected. A total of 149 san1ples were used both teachers and pupils.

The structured questionnaire and observation checklist were the tools used to collect the data that were summarised into tables with their frequencies given

descriptive technique was then used to analyse and interpret the data.

The study concluded that the common types of child abuse was neglect by teachers and denial of basic needs to children. The major cause of child abuse was

loss of parents; which resulted into drop out of children from school. For others who remained at school, it led to inegular attendance which caused poor academic

performance. It was therefore recommended that sensitisation drives be stepped up to bring awareness on child abuse and to enact laws that can help to effectively prosecute child abusers.

TABLE OF CONTENTS ,.

DECLARATION ................................................................................... ii

APPROVAL ........................................................................... iii

DEDICATION .................................................................................... iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................-............................... v

TABLE OF CONTENTS ..................................................................................... vi

LIST OF TABL,. ES ............................................................................... viii .

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................ IX

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ..................... : ........................................... 1

1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ........................................................... 1

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM ................................................ , ......... 3

1.3 PURPOSE .............................................................................. 3

1.4 OBJECTIVE .............................................................................. 3

1.5 SCOPE ................................................................................ 4

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE ........................................................................................ 4

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ......................... 5

2.0 Introduc,rion ................................................................................ 5

2.1.2 Mental or Emotional Abuse ........................................................................ 7

2.1.3 Sexual or Sadistic Child Abuse ............ :..... 8

2.2 Causes of Child Abuse ................................................................................ 9

2.2.1 Government Policy ................................................................................... 10

2.2.2 Level of Education ................................................................................... IO

2.2.3 Size of the Family .................................................................................... 11

2.2.4 Sex and Age of Parents ..................... : ............................ II

2.2.5 Natural Catastrophes and War .................................................................. 12

2 .3 Effects of Child Abuse on Academic Performance ................................... 13

2.4 Research Questions .................................................................................. 15

CHAPTER THREE: JWETHODS OF INVESTIGATION ............................. 16

3. 0 Introduction ......................................................................................... 16

3 .1 Research Design ....................................................................................... 16

3.2 Research Area .......................................................................................... 16

3.3 Sample size and Selection ........................................................ 16

3 .4 Research Instruments ............................................................................... 17

3.5 Reliability and Validity ofinstruments ..................................................... 17

3. 6 Data Collection and Procedure ............................................................... 178

3.7 Data.Analysis ...................................................................... 18

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CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION .. 19

4.0 Introduction ......................................................................................... 19

4.1 Background Information .......................................................... 20

4.2 Research Question one ............. : ............................................................... 20

4.3 Research question two .......................................................... . ................... 22

4.3 Research question three ............................................................................ 25

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION CONCLUSION AND

RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................. 28

5.0 Intr·oduction ......................................................................................... 28

5. 1.1 Forms of child abuse ................................................................................ 28

5.1.2 Causes of child abuse ............................................................................... 29

5 .1.3 Child abuse and academic performance .................................................... 30

5.2 Conclusion ......................................................................................... 31

5.3 Recommendations .................................................................................... 32

REFERENCES ..................................................................... : ............................. 33

APPENDICES ......................................................................................... 35