Modelling the differential incidence of child abuse, neglect and exploitation in poor households in South Africa

Abstract

Child abuse is rife and on the increase in South Africa. The review of five theories of child abuse shows that each theory is unitary, limited and isolated and proposes an incomplete understanding of and solution to child abuse. The ineffectiveness of prevention, intervention actions against child abuse and the poor management and control of child abuse cases are the consequence of unfocussed and disintegrated policies and programmes biased towards overestimated poor economic conditions. This research argues that poor economic conditions are not the sole important variables contributing to child abuse. This hypothesis is confirmed by the observation of the Memorial Institute‟s child abuse database. The purpose of this research is therefore to facilitate a clear understanding of child abuse in order to assist decision making for the prevention of, interventions against and management of child abuse cases. The research proposes the Integrated Modelled Theory that combines variables from different theories to facilitate a clear understanding of child abuse and consequently inform prevention, intervention and management actions through integrated and focused policies and programmes.