THE PREVALENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS (Brief Report)

Abstract

This is an investigation into the prevalence of child psychological, physical, emotional, and ritualistic abuse among a sample of university students. A retrospective self-rating questionnaire was completed by 722 University of the North undergraduate students (South Africa) in a classroom setting. The questionnaire addressed the demographic variables of the participants; psychological, physical, and emotional abusive experiences from their parents or adult caretakers before the age of 17 years; and ritualistic abusive experiences before the age of 17 years. The prevalence rates were as follows: 79.1% (N=526) for psychological abused, 16.2% (N=110) for physical abuse, 28.5% (N=194) for emotional abuse, 6.0% (N=37) for ritualistic abuse. The author calls for an awareness campaign in those areas of child abuse and for awareness making of the public about the possible short and long-term effects of such abusive behaviours on children.