Qualitative Study of Child Maltreatment in Cameroon

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue I, January 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Qualitative Study of Child Maltreatment in Cameroon

Teke Johnson Takwa, Demographer
Central Bureau for Censuses and Population Studies, P.O.Box 12932 Yaounde-Cameroon

Abstract:
Child maltreatment sometimes referred to as child abuse and neglect, is a global problem with serious negative life-long consequences. Unfortunately very few studies have been carried on this issue in Cameroon. This study seeks to throw some light on this worrisome social ill focus group discussion. During these discussions children below 18 who have been or currently undergoing maltreatment were guided to talk about the definitions, types, causes, perpetrators and consequences of this worrisome but often hidden social ill. Various forms of malpractices on children such as sexual abuse, neglect, physical and emotional harm were mentioned as some of the ills perpetrated against them by step mothers, uncles, non-relatives and sometimes their parents. Even though the most frequent forms of these abuses varied from one region to another, some of them such as neglect, sexual abuse and physical harm were reported in almost all the regions. Early and forced marriage was declared by some discussants in the northern regions especially among the Moslem community. The reported causes of these ill-treatments are jealousy from childless step mothers, ignorance, false accusation of witchcraft and stealing, polygamy, poverty, consumption of alcohol and substance abuse. The consequences negatively affect all domains of a child’s life and have resulted to delinquency, retarded development, HIV/AIDS infection, etc. The gravity of the issues discussed calls for further enquiries as well as solutions.

Keywords: child, maltreatment, abuse, neglect

0.0 Introduction

Child maltreatment sometimes referred to as child abuse and neglect, is a global problem with serious life-long consequences. It is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitations, which result in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power. Exposure to intimate partner violence is also sometimes included as a form of child maltreatment (Wright, S.E., 2015).
Child maltreatment is complex and difficult to study. Statistics on child maltreatment in Cameroon are rare as in many other countries. Many cases of child abuse are not reported to the police or social welfare services. They have equally been very few studies that have been carried on it. Child maltreatment though real in Cameroon is often relegated to the background in favour of other preoccupations such as child malnutrition (Mbassa,M.D, 2005)
Nonetheless, international studies reveal that a quarter of all adults report having been physically abused as children and 1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child. Additionally, many children are subject to emotional abuse (sometimes referred to as psychological abuse) and to neglect.
Every year, there are an estimated 41 000 homicide deaths in children under 15. This number underestimates the true extent of the problem, as a significant proportion of deaths due to child maltreatment are incorrectly attributed to falls, burns, drowning and other causes (Alicia, R.P., 2020).In armed conflict and refugee settings, girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation and abuse by combatants, security forces, members of their communities, aid workers and others (Sebre S et al, 2003).

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