IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bcp/journl/v8y2024i3sp2367-2386.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Strategies for Safeguarding Children from Abuse and Maltreatment in Dysfunctional Families. An Analysis Study of Traditional Authority Chimwala, Mangochi District

Author

Listed:
  • Kassan Kaselema

    (DMI-St. John the Baptist University, Malawi)

  • Abester Ngozo

    (DMI-St. John the Baptist University, Malawi)

Abstract

This study analyses strategies to safeguard children from abuse and maltreatment in dysfunctional homes, with a focus on identifying key risk factors, assessing the effectiveness of various interventions, and examining the role of legal and policy frameworks. Through quantitative approach, the study reveals that children in dysfunctional families are at significant risk due to unstable environments, parental mismanagement of anger, and inconsistent care. Specifically, children experience frequent changes in living situations, leading to insecurity and anxiety. In 55% of cases, parental anger is misdirected at children, resulting in fear and behavioural issues. Psychological abuse, including constant criticism and emotional manipulation, severely impacts children’s mental health, while inconsistent care due to financial difficulties, mental health issues, and single parenting affects 30% of children. Additionally, frequent arguments or aggression in 25% of these homes create a tense atmosphere detrimental to children’s emotional development. Furthermore, 35% of parents exhibit abusive behaviors under extreme stress, causing profound psychological trauma. The study assesses the effectiveness of various intervention programs. The top 30% of programs achieve the highest effectiveness, significantly reducing abuse rates through well-funded, rigorously evaluated approaches. Legal and policy frameworks play a crucial role in protecting children, prioritizing their best interests through appropriate custody arrangements and mandatory reporting of abuse. Continuous oversight and collaboration between legal and social services are essential. The study concludes with recommendations to enhance program design, strengthen legal frameworks, address parental stress, and promote public awareness. Further research is suggested to explore long-term impacts and effectiveness of interventions in various contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Kassan Kaselema & Abester Ngozo, 2024. "Strategies for Safeguarding Children from Abuse and Maltreatment in Dysfunctional Families. An Analysis Study of Traditional Authority Chimwala, Mangochi District," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(3s), pages 2367-2386, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:8:y:2024:i:3s:p:2367-2386
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/Digital-Library/volume-8-issue-3s/2367-2386.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/articles/strategies-for-safeguarding-children-from-abuse-and-maltreatment-in-dysfunctional-families-an-analysis-study-of-traditional-authority-chimwala-mangochi-district/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Putnam-Hornstein, Emily & Needell, Barbara, 2011. "Predictors of child protective service contact between birth and age five: An examination of California's 2002 birth cohort," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2400-2407.
    2. Li, Fenfang & Godinet, Meripa T. & Arnsberger, Pam, 2011. "Protective factors among families with children at risk of maltreatment: Follow up to early school years," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 139-148, January.
    3. Slack, Kristen Shook & Berger, Lawrence M. & DuMont, Kimberly & Yang, Mi-Youn & Kim, Bomi & Ehrhard-Dietzel, Susan & Holl, Jane L., 2011. "Risk and protective factors for child neglect during early childhood: A cross-study comparison," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1354-1363, August.
    4. Palusci, Vincent J., 2011. "Risk factors and services for child maltreatment among infants and young children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1374-1382, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kim, Hyunil & Jonson-Reid, Melissa & Kohl, Patricia & Chiang, Chien-jen & Drake, Brett & Brown, Derek & McBride, Tim & Guo, Shenyang, 2020. "Latent class analysis risk profiles: An effective method to predict a first re-report of maltreatment?," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. Maria Manuela Calheiros & Sandra Ornelas & Eunice Magalhães & Margarida Vaz Garrido, 2022. "Profiles of Young Children Involved with Child Protection Services in Portugal," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(3), pages 933-958, June.
    3. Palusci, Vincent J. & Vandervort, Frank E., 2014. "Universal reporting laws and child maltreatment report rates in large U.S. counties," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 20-28.
    4. Fong, Kelley, 2017. "Child welfare involvement and contexts of poverty: The role of parental adversities, social networks, and social services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 5-13.
    5. Kaye, Miranda P. & Faber, Aubrey & Davenport, Katie E. & Perkins, Daniel F., 2018. "Common components of evidence-informed home visitation programs for the prevention of child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 94-105.
    6. Chiang, Chien-Jen & Jonson-Reid, Melissa & Drake, Brett, 2020. "Caregiver physical health and child maltreatment reports and rereports," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    7. Palusci, Vincent J. & Vandervort, Frank E. & Lewis, Jessica M., 2016. "Does changing mandated reporting laws improve child maltreatment reporting in large U.S. counties?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 170-179.
    8. Schwartz, Ira M. & York, Peter & Nowakowski-Sims, Eva & Ramos-Hernandez, Ana, 2017. "Predictive and prescriptive analytics, machine learning and child welfare risk assessment: The Broward County experience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 309-320.
    9. Piper, Kathryn A., 2017. "Differential response in child protection: How much is too much?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 69-80.
    10. Wolf, Jennifer Price & Freisthler, Bridget & McCarthy, Karla Shockley, 2021. "Parenting in poor health: Examining associations between parental health, prescription drug use, and child maltreatment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 277(C).
    11. Font, Sarah A., 2015. "Are children safer with kin? A comparison of maltreatment risk in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 20-29.
    12. Ha, Yoonsook & Collins, Mary Elizabeth & Martino, David, 2015. "Child care burden and the risk of child maltreatment among low-income working families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 19-27.
    13. Rolock, Nancy & Jantz, Ian & Abner, Kristin, 2015. "Community perceptions and foster care placement: A multi-level analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 186-191.
    14. Elgin, Dallas J., 2018. "Utilizing predictive modeling to enhance policy and practice through improved identification of at-risk clients: Predicting permanency for foster children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 156-167.
    15. Keddell, Emily & Davie, Gabrielle & Barson, Dave, 2019. "Child protection inequalities in Aotearoa New Zealand: Social gradient and the ‘inverse intervention law’," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    16. Morrison, Maria & Drake, Brett, 2023. "Foster children in care due to parental incarceration: A national longitudinal study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    17. Ubbesen, Mads Bonde & Petersen, Liselotte & Mortensen, Preben Bo & Kristensen, Ole Steen, 2012. "Out of care and into care again: A Danish register‐based study of children placed in out-of‐home care before their third birthday," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2147-2155.
    18. Helton, Jesse J., 2016. "Food neglect and maltreatment re-report," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 77-83.
    19. Maguire-Jack, Kathryn & Font, Sarah A., 2017. "Intersections of individual and neighborhood disadvantage: Implications for child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 44-51.
    20. Schreier, Alayna & McCoy, Kelsey & Flood, Mary Fran & Wilcox, Brian L. & Hansen, David J., 2020. "Early Head Start service use by families with court-substantiated maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bcp:journl:v:8:y:2024:i:3s:p:2367-2386. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Dr. Pawan Verma (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://rsisinternational.org/journals/ijriss/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.