Publication Date: 2023/12/26
Abstract: Background: Physical abuse at school is more frequently discussed than emotional abuse. Emotional abuse is more difficult to assess and has significant implications for children's mental development, and this receives less attention. Children who are repeatedly neglected, shamed, terrified, or humiliated suffer as much as, if not more than, children who are physically harmed. Child abuse is a major social issue as well as of public health importance. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of emotional abuse among the adolescents in the senior secondary schools in Ekiti and its socio- demographic determinants. Methods: This was a cross sectional study among adolescents in senior secondary schools in Ekiti state. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting 450 adolescents by simple random sampling. An adapted self- administered questionnaire was used. Data were collected with this instrument by trained research assistants. Data was entered into and analyzed with SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics was done using percentages, mean and standard deviation while inferential statistics was generated using chi square and binary logistic regression. Level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: The female respondents were187 (41.6%) while the males were 263 (58.4%). The early, mid, and late adolescents were 190 (42.2%), 220 (48.9%) and 40 (8.9%) respectively. 66% of in-school adolescents experienced emotional abuse with discriminating being the most experienced form. The likelihood of being emotionally abused as an adolescent in the late stage was 38%more compared to early adolescents with p value of 0.045 and was also66% higher among the male respondents compared with female with p value of 0.044. Conclusion: The adolescents in senior secondary schools experience various forms of emotional abuse and younger age and female sex are associated with the likelihood of experiencing it more. School authority should organize periodic enlightenment programs for the teachers. The government should have a policy with respect to training for the teachers on the effect of emotional abuse and consequences of abusing the students.
Keywords: prevalence emotional/psychological abuse, adolescents, in-school, Ekiti.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10431874
PDF: https://ijirst.demo4.arinfotech.co/assets/upload/files/IJISRT23DEC835.pdf
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