Displaying 1 - 10 of 14
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This article initiates the conversation on the conceptualisation of child neglect in Namibia, reporting findings from a small study undertaken in 2017. The research is a collaboration between academics at the University of Namibia, Africa, University of Bristol and Cardiff University in the UK. The study is the first of its kind in Namibia, offering original knowledge about what constitutes neglect for children in the local context of child-rearing practice. Qualitative interviews with practitioners in schools and social-care organisations were undertaken in three of the fourteen…
ABSTRACT
Background: It is difficult to estimate the true extent of infanticide and baby dumping in Namibia, since such cases may go unreported. However, police statistics and anecdotal information suggest that the problem is significant. While the act of abandoning a newborn baby seems heartless and cruel, baby dumping is the end result of various issues that are affecting young mothers who feel they have no alternative.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of incarcerated women who had dumped or committed infanticide in Namibia.
Methods:…
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A dearth in research exists regarding the onset and escalation of misbehaviour in male, prepubescent, at-risk children. Insight into which factors contribute to the onset and escalation of such behaviour in this age group, as well as what could possibly assist in the prevention of misbehaviour, is lacking in criminological literature. While observational research into male, at-risk children is fraught with ethical concerns, an in-depth understanding of the perceptions of those responsible for their wellbeing could provide invaluable information on the topic. This study explored…
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The paper articulates accomplishments of child and youth care centres in providing care and support to children identified to be at risk of significant harm. The study was grounded in the qualitative approach and a case study was employed as the research design. The study used semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions as means of gathering data. The dominant narratives from the study were that Child and Youth Care Centres (CYCCs) are vehicles offering holistic services to children found in need of care and protection, providing care to vulnerable children with…
This research provides insight into the current intervention strategies used by social workers in emergency child protection, whereby children are removed from their caregivers as a result of abuse and are placed at child and youth care centres. The research findings suggested that because of the lack of a practice model to guide professionals, as well as the significant challenges experienced by such professionals (high caseloads, staff turnover, lack of resources), the current intervention strategies in child protection are rushed, bureaucratic (paperwork focused) and emotionally…
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Child abuse remains a major issue in South Africa. In many cases, the emergency removal of a child from his/her family is necessary in order to protect the child from further harm. Working with children and families in these contexts is a specialised field within social work, and as such requires specialised interventions. There is a gap in terms of providing professionals with a practice model for implementing emergency child protection interventions with children at risk. This study aims to address this gap by means of developing a model for practice. In the development of such…
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Despite the extent and magnitude of violence against children in South Africa, political and financial investments to prevent violence against children remain low. A recent costing study investigating the social burden and economic impact of violence against children in South Africa found notable reductions to mental and physical health outcomes in the population if children were prevented from experiencing violence, neglect and witnessing family violence. The results showed, among others, that drug abuse in the entire population could be reduced by up to 14% if sexual violence…
This chapter appears in Child Maltreatment in Residential Care: History, Research, and Current Practice, a volume of research examining the institutionalization of children, child abuse and neglect in residential care, and interventions preventing and responding to violence against children living in out-of-home care settings around the world.
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In Sub-…
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The aim of the paper is to explore selected pertinent challenges that impede child and youth care centres (CYCCs) from providing holistic support and care to children found in need of care as stated in the Children’s Act No. 38/2005. A qualitative approach was utilised in the study and the case study was used as the research design. Data was gathered by means of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The major findings drawn from the study are that factors posit serious threats in the achievement of providing holistic care and protection to children in CYCCs.…
This dissertation explores the experiences and representations of child abandonment in urban Johannesburg, South Africa. The study collects perspectives from different groups related to the issue, including child protection professionals, abandoning mothers and their children. The dissertation also discusses media representations of child abandonment and the socio-economic characteristics of abandoning mothers. The dissertation also compares the Western biomedical concept of child abandonment and the Indigenous African ancestral beliefs and the role and responsibility of the state to provide…