The role of education in preventing child abuse in Kenya

Introduction Child abuse is any act, or failure to act, by a parent or other caregiver that results in actual or potential harm to a child. It includes all forms of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, or... [ view full abstract ]

Introduction
Child abuse is any act, or failure to act, by a parent or other caregiver that results in actual or potential harm to a child. It includes all forms of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, or neglect, and can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with. Children identified as vulnerable our community include:- orphans, children form single parents, children from violent marriages i.e father comes home drunk and starts beating children and the mother, children from dysfunctional families ie mother brings in different men in the house and practice sex when children are around, children staying with parents who make and sell traditional brew. Some forms of child abuse these children get exposed include:- Pornography, child prostitution, child labour, physical beating, child soldier, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, children dropped out of school and child trafficking. Most of these children are exposed to these abuses due to poverty especially lack of basic needs i.e food, clothing and shelter forces girls to prostitution since they are paid and can afford food. Insecurity i.e during post election many children were defiled while running after their lives. Child headed families especially where children are left orphans hence no one to protect them from the abusers. Dysfunctional families e.g a mother who brings in different men in the house, her girls emulate and do the same for exchange of money.
Conclusion
This paper outlines some of existing child abuse cases in the country citing examples from the communities and identifies the existing gaps in child protection structures and thereafter come up with recommendations to prevention of child abuse.