Study of Child Abuse Prevalence and Reporting Patterns in Benue State

Child abuse represents a serious but systematically underreported crime in Nigerian communities, with cultural norms around child discipline and privacy limiting disclosure and prosecution. This study assessed the prevalence of child abuse and reporting patterns in Makurdi and Otukpo Local Government Areas, Benue State, North Central Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 220 parents and caregivers from primary school communities and a separate clinical review of child protection records at two hospitals was conducted. A structured questionnaire assessed awareness of child abuse definitions, witnessed or experienced abuse, reporting behaviour, and barriers to reporting. Results showed that physical abuse was the most commonly identified form (57.3 percent of respondents acknowledged witnessing corporal punishment exceeding cultural norms), followed by emotional abuse (42.7 percent) and neglect (38.2 percent). Child sexual abuse disclosure was rare, occurring in only 4.1 percent of cases where known by respondents. Formal reporting to police, social welfare, or NAPTIP had been made in fewer than 15 percent of known abuse cases. Barriers included belief that family matters should not involve authorities (72.1 percent), ignorance of reporting channels (58.4 percent), and distrust of child welfare agency follow-up. The study concludes that child abuse is substantially underreported in Benue State. Recommendations include community-based reporting networks, mandatory reporting obligations for health workers and teachers, and strengthened Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs child protection capacity.

Keywords: child abuse, reporting behaviour, child protection, Benue State, North Central Nigeria