EVALUATION OF ABEOKUTA RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF MASS MEDIA INVOLVEMENT IN CHILD ABUSE DISCOURAGEMENT

CHAPTER ONE 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.2 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY Children are regarded as precious gifts from God, leaders of tomorrow, man’s ticket of continuity on earth; yet, these same children are subjected to different forms of abuse and neglect. Perhaps, it is in recognition of this fact that the United Nations in 1979 designated that year as the „international year of the child‟ and went ahead to develop a list of children’s rights. Among the rights as enunciated by the United Nations are that every child is entitled to the right to love and understanding; adequate food and health; free education, play, an identity and special attention of the handicapped regardless of color, sex, religion and nation or social origin (Nwokedi, 2016). Unfortunately, according to the United Nations, many people are not aware of the existence of these rights. This is why child abuse is rampant in many countries of the world including Nigeria today. Young (2001) in Nwokedi (2016) observe that, “child abuse and neglect are an integral part of the modern world including African society and Nigeria in particular. Corporal punishment is widely given as a result of disobedience in any child. These include caning and in some communities in Nigeria, painful punishment such as rubbing pepper into the genital region is practiced”. According to Akinyemi (2013, p.1) child abuse, “is any act of misuse of a child in any form, it is situation where a child is not being provided the much needed necessities of life, where a child is maltreated physically, sexually or emotionally and this is detrimental to the future growth and development of such a child”. In deference to its obligations as a party to this international protocol, the Nigerian government in 2003 localized this law, thus incorporating its provisions into our statutes. Acknowledging the delicate and vulnerable conditions of children in every society and the obligation of all to insulate them from abuse, the law enjoins all societal groups to protect children from abuse. A society whose culture adheres literarily to the Biblical injunction “spare the rod and spoil the child”, promoting a new regime for special treatment and protection of children was most likely to be met with some reluctance if not outright rejection. Child abuse takes two forms: verbal and physical abuse. To Gadit (2011), verbal abuse can be expressed as the form of offensive language, usage of swear words, threats, critical comments with harsh tone, shouting, yelling and screaming and passing nasty remarks which fits perfectly into the category of emotional torture that has long lasting repercussions, while Akanji and Dada (2012) citing Ross (1998) defines physical abuse as involving any inflicted injuries such as bruises, burns, fractures, poisoning, striking, kicking or any other actions that result into a physical impairment of the child. This was substantiated by Dryden (2009) who states that physical abuse involves injury resulting from beating, kicking, throwing, stabbing, hitting, either with a hand, stick or other object which leads to harming a child regardless of whether the guardian or caretaker intended to hurt the child. In the write-up ‘Children’s Rights and Journalism practice’ commissioned by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, 2007) child protection is defined as ‘‘protecting children from harm, both intentional and unintentional and it applies particularly to the duty of organizations and individuals associated with those organizations towards children in their care.’’ Although Akanji and Dada (2012) assert that child abuse has no specific definition as it varies across individuals, ethnics, religions and professional bodies, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2019) defines it as all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting 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. The effects of child abuse may be anxiety, agitation, guilt feelings, neurotic disorders and the society is also affected by this menace, because most of these young derelicts graduate to become armed robbers and kidnappers of tomorrow. Most dare-devil criminals we have around us today were young delinquents of yesterday. It is a cycle, and will continue unbroken until government civil society groups, parents, school and religious institutions hold the bull by the horns to curb this untold act in our society (Akinyemi, 2013). As the impact of child abuse negatively affects the child, so does it also negatively affect nation-building. Nigerian children are the leaders of tomorrow and the quality of tomorrow’s leaders is dependent on the quality of education and social support given to them today. Children are man’s ticket of continuity on earth and when wantonly abused, constitute the most destructive element of nation-building, because it destroys the roots of the child’s existence and future. It is believed that the mass media have always been the major channel through which these programs are made popular to the people in the country. The mass media, no doubt, is potent in the spread of innovations and mobilization of the people for a particular course, of nation benefit. It means that the media can be a potent tool in the mobilization and education of the people, on the need to participate in the actualization of the campaign against child abuse (Anorue, Obayi & Onyebuchi, 2011). Olayiwola (1991:33) cited in (Anorue, Obayi & Onyebuchi, 2012) sums it up when he notes that, “some kinds of communication on some kinds of issues, brought to the attention of some kind of people under some kinds of conditions (through some kinds of channel) “have some kind of effect”. The media, in this case the broadcast media (radio and television), in performance of their various duties in the society, have not been left out in the efforts at eliminating child abuse in the country. The broadcast media by their very nature are influential particularly in issues of creating awareness, mass mobilization and sensitization, influencing public opinion and calling attention to pressing socio-cultural issues in the society. Broadcasting is the primary means by which information and entertainment are delivered to the public in virtually every nation around the world (Nwokedi, 2016). Talking about the influence of broadcasting in the society, Adaba (1997) cited in Emakpor (2008, p.5) avers that “no other medium can deliver as large and instantaneous an audience to politicians or government as broadcasting can. Secondly, rightly or wrongly, the belief persists all over the world that broadcasting is an eminently persuasive medium, omnipresent in people’s homes, work places, even in transit. It is akin to a second skin through which most people stay in touch with their immediate environment and the world at large”. World Health Organization (WHO), in June 2020 revealed Global Statistics against Children by indicating that “up to one billion children age 2-17 had experienced physical emotional or sexual violence or neglect in the past one year”. The further forms of violence against people perpetuated by parents or other care-givers, peers, romantic partners or strangers. According to the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention (2021), violence against children and youth is a common Global phenomenon. With over one billion children as victims of violence. About one or more than 80% of male and female’s age 13-24 years hate experienced sexual or physical abuse as a child. It is also stated that between 11-26% of adolescent girls in Sub-Sahara Africa have experienced sexual violence in the past 12 months. Violence against children takes many forms including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and may involve neglect or deprivation. In fact, about one billion children age 1-14 years have experience one form of violence or the other (UNICEF, 2017). Nigeria has a large population of children who are orphans, who engage in child labor, and/or who do not attend school. Global evidence shows that these children are particularly vulnerable to violence. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey 2013 estimated that 9% of children are orphans or are vulnerable owing to illnesses among adult household members. The National Bureau of Statistics conducted a study on child labor in 2006 and found that 29% of all children aged 5 to 14 years were engaged in child labor, one in five (21%) were engaged in family business while 9% were working outside the family unpaid. According to Findings from a National Survey (2014), a Nigerian study, found that nearly 78% of 350 employed girls reported being sexually assaulted, with girls less than 12 years old at a higher risk of assault. Other studies conducted in various locations in Nigeria have found that rape among youth is often preceded by coercive acts and other forms of abuse and those perpetrators are most frequently known to the child experiencing the violence. The media have a very crucial role to play in the promotion of human rights in any country. The media, according to Asemah (2011), are agents of social change that can bring about positive attitudinal change in the audience; they set agenda for the people to follow in any society. The mass media are crucial to opinion formulation and eventual outcomes of events. The media are champions of human rights. They act as the eyes, ears and voices of the public, drawing attention to abuses of power and human rights, often at considerable personal risk. Through their work, they can encourage governments and civil society organizations to effect changes that will improve the quality of people's lives. Journalists, photographers and programme producers frequently expose the plight of children caught up in circumstances beyond their control or abused or exploited by adults. It is equally important to consider the children's angle in more conventional news coverage. A good way of testing the value of changes in the law or fiscal policy, for example, is to consider the extent to which children will benefit or suffer a consequence. The way in which the media represent or even ignore children can influence decisions taken on their behalf and how the rest of society regards them. The media often depict children merely as silent 'victims' or charming 'innocents'. By providing children and young people with opportunities to speak for themselves about their hopes and fears, their achievements and the impact of adult behavior on their lives, media professionals can remind the public that children deserve to be respected as individual human beings. Media professionals have an obligation to respect children's human rights, in how they operate and how they represent them (Asemah, Edegoh & Ogwo, 2013). According to report, the media play a significant role in forming and influencing people's attitudes and behavior (Goddard & Sauders, 2001 cited in Nwokedi, 2016). It has been known that media stories influence public perceptions and play a substantial role in how people understand certain societal problems, including crime. The essential tasks of news media are to inform, educate as well as entertain. Through these functions, they sensitize, enlighten and persuade members of the public to actively take part in developmental activities and other causes. The information distributed by the news media could be damaging or useful to the society. News journalists have a lot of influence. What they write can persuade decisions, help form public opinions of people and add to the general mind-set of readers and life in general. Mass media education and prevention campaigns may be designed to target children and young people, providing them with useful information and alerting them to avenues for further information, help and support. Campaigns can also use regular television programs for children. Drawing on the research of Baran, Chase and Court right (2009) and Forge and Phemister (2007), the Inquiry into the Effects of Television and Multimedia on Children and Families in Victoria (2000: 15) states: “Children . . . have shown cooperative behavior following one observation of just one episode of positive social behavior in a commercial television drama and cartoons with a positive social message have produced positive behaviors in preschoolers. Discussions of complex issues and approaches to conflict resolution have also been successfully utilized in Australian drama.” Campaign organizers can approach producers of popular children’s television requesting that they incorporate messages, such as a child’s right to physical integrity and to protection from harm, and depict desired protective behaviors, such as seeking help if a child feels threatened or unsafe. Further, campaigns may be designed to give children and young people an opportunity to express their views on issues that affect them, specifically targeting adult audiences that habitually ignore the views and experiences of children and young people. Research on the physical punishment of children (Saunders, in progress) suggests, for example, that adults may be interested to hear children’s views on the issue of physical discipline, and children interviewed in the research were keen for adults to hear their views. To date, however, the media rarely, if ever, consults children and takes their views into account before reporting on the physical punishment of children. Indeed, the media often trivialises the issue of physical punishment (Saunders and Goddard 1998, 1999(a) and (b), 2000). Tomison (2006: 77) has noted that The United Kingdom Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse made a recommendation that the media “take a more balanced and sympathetic view of children”. Tomison (2007) highlights that: “In line with a belief in the importance of ‘listening to children’, the Commission felt that the media should take the views of children into account when presenting on an issue in which children have some interest. The Commission (2006) recommended that the media should have an obligation to consider a child’s best interest in stories in which children feature, and that the failure to do so would constitute grounds for a complaint to a relevant authority.” The impact of a media campaign may be dramatic and far-reaching as it is occurring, and perhaps for a short time afterwards. However, campaigns drawing attention to child abuse will be more effective if they are ongoing (Calvert, 2002). Mass media campaigns have the potential to confront society with the horrific nature of much child abuse. Such campaigns can also educate the public about the many, often co-existing, forms of abuse suffered by children. They can also draw attention to the status of children in society, highlighting children’s dependency and vulnerability to abuse and neglect. According to Hall and Stannard (2007: 5): “The physical and emotional impacts of child abuse are very clear. However, the long-term loss of productivity through lower achievement levels, unemployment and family dislocation are less apparent. Research shows that the child abuse can also lead to criminal behavior among young people. These costs must be met by the taxpayer for years to come through increasing [financial] claims as well as health, counselling, welfare, police and prison services.” Mass media education and prevention campaigns present a viable means for governments to be seen to be doing something in relation to the problem of child abuse and neglect. Campaigns may assist not only in the prevention of immediate harm to children and young people but also in allaying the long-term social and economic consequences of child maltreatment. Campaigns must, of course, be backed by supportive services for children, young people and their families. Thus, this study sets out to evaluate Abeokuta residents’ perception of mass media involvement in child abuse discouragement. 1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The rate at which children are abused and neglected in our society today suggests that either the adult members of the society are not aware of every child’s right to love, care and protection; are not versed on the implications of child rights abuse or are blatantly oblivious or unconcerned because they see children as both insignificant and irrelevant members of the society thereby, disregarding the fact that children are the leaders and the livewires of our society of tomorrow. Communities' awareness of child abuse often correlates with media exposure. For instance, a study by Dawkins et al. (2016) found that increased exposure to child protection media campaigns significantly raised awareness among participants about the indicators of child abuse, leading to more proactive reporting behaviors. Research indicates mixed perceptions regarding media responsibility. Fawole et al. (2016) reported that some residents regard media coverage as essential in promoting child protection, while others criticize the sensationalism often found in reporting cases of abuse. Ogunyemi and Nwankwo (2019) noted that traditional beliefs around child-rearing often clash with media portrayals, leading to skepticism among certain community members regarding the media's effectiveness in addressing child abuse (Ogunyemi and Nwankwo, 2019). Evaluations of specific media campaigns show varying results concerning effectiveness. A study by George and Salako (2021) found that targeted media campaigns that incorporate community narratives have greater success in fostering community engagement and awareness compared to general campaigns (George and Salako, 2021). The rise of social media has changed how information about child abuse is disseminated. Research by Adamu et al. (2020) indicates that platforms like Facebook and Twitter can mobilize community responses and create awareness more rapidly than traditional media (Adamu et al., 2020). Also, as opined by Ede and Kalu (2018) in Obiwuru (2020), children are the bedrock of any society and the greatest assurance of the continuity of the human race. They are the prime reason for our visualization of tomorrow. Therefore, an abuse on the children could be akin to an abuse of the future of our society and as rightly pointed out by the World Health Organization (WHO) a child who is abused is more likely to abuse others as an adult so that violence is passed down from one generation to the next; giving credence to the words of the then Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, “the society we abuse today must definitely take its toll on us tomorrow” It is therefore critical to break this cycle of violence, and in so doing create positive multi-generational impacts. Whichever be the case, it implies that the media are not living up to their expectation in making sure that the rights of every member of the society are consistently spelt out and made to resonate at all times in the minds of every member of the society by continuously giving the issue a pride of place on media agenda. Why the media do not live up to these expectations is what this study is poised to discover. In other words, the study dwelt on the challenges that impede journalists’ efforts and desire to keep child rights issues afloat on the media agenda and also, proffered solutions to the problems of under and negative reportage of these issues. Therefore, this study sets out to evaluate Abeokuta residents’ perception of mass media involvement in child abuse discouragement. 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The main objective of the study is to evaluate Abeokuta residents’ perception of mass media involvement in child abuse discouragement, while the specific objectives are to: 1. Find out the kind of programs relating to child abuse and labor aired on mass media. 2. Determine the extent to which Ogun State residents are aware of child abuse through the mass media. 3. Determine the perception of Ogun State residents on child abuse discouragement. 4. Find out how the programs have helped in discouraging the practice of child abuse among the residents Ogun State. 1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS The study answered the following research questions 1. What kind of programs relating to child abuse and labor are aired mass media? 2. To what extent are Ogun State residents aware of child abuse through the mass media? 3. What is the perception of Ogun State residents on child abuse discouragement? 4. In what way have these programs helped in discouraging the practice of child abuse among the residents of Ogun State? 1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY This study will be of great importance as it will provide necessary information on the causes, effects and means to curtail or reduce the crime of child abuse in Nigeria. Apart from providing means and strategy for curtailing the prevalence of the crime of child abuse and neglect in our society, this study will also advocate for practical and conscientious moves towards the rehabilitation of children that have already been a victim of various forms of abuses. In practical terms, the findings of this study will bring to the fore; the inadequacies, deficiencies, flaws and other problems inherent in the enforcement of the Child’s Right Act 2003 and other laws on the rights of the child. The crime of child abuse has received little attention from people in our society in time past. This study has hereby aimed at bringing the crime of child abuse into the limelight and also steps to take in curbing its menace. This research is also aimed at analyzing the crime of child abuse and how it impacts on our society. The government and other policy makers will also find this work very handy in an attempt to find solutions to this problem. Similarly, this work will also assist law enforcement agencies in their bid to abate the crime of child abuse in Nigeria. This research will make a contribution by highlighting the intricacies of media’s involvement in promoting human rights. The study will also be a useful guide for mass media organizations like the broadcast institutions in planning to educate the public on the consequences of child abuse. This study would serve as a reference material for both the students and researchers who may have their study in line with the study’s area of research. Finally, the study is needed as a pre-requisite for the award of the Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication. Also, it will serve as a reference material for future researchers. 1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to look at the evaluation of Abeokuta residents’ perception of mass media involvement in child abuse discourage. This study is limited to the residents of Abeokuta metropolis. 1.7 Limitations of the Study There are various limitations of the study. The first limitation is the timeframe to complete the research work. This is considered a limitation as it would reduce the scope which the research would have covered, specifically, beyond the shores of the selected setting. In addition, the research was unable to get enough resources to explore beyond the specified scope. In order to cover for this, the researcher will be able to manage available resources effectively and sample a smaller sample size of residents of Abeokuta metropolis. This will be systematically done in order to still ascertain generalizability of the findings of the study. 1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS Mass Media: The mass media are communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data, or promotional messages are disseminated. Example, television, radio, newspapers, and magazines. Child Abuse: It is an act which constitutes all forms of physical and emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship or responsibility, trust or power. Involvement: Involvement refers to the extent to which an individual is motivated to engage in a particular behavior or activity, often driven by personal values, interests, or identity. Discouragement: Discouragement is a feeling of disappointment, disheartenment, and loss of motivation or enthusiasm, often resulting from a setback, failure, or unmet expectations. Child Trafficking: Child trafficking is a modern form of slavery that involves displacing a child for the purpose of exploitation. It is also the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring and or receipt of a child for the purpose of exploitation. Child Labor: It is the employment of children in any work that deprives them or that may interfere with their education or endanger their health. Evaluation: Evaluation is the process of assessing the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of a program, project, or policy. Perception: Perception is the process by which we select, organize, and interpret sensory information from the environment to create a meaningful experience.