Influence of Radio in Raising Awareness Against Societal Child Abuse: Case Study of Bond Fm and Radio Continental
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives of the study
The general objective of the study was to determine the influence of radio in raising awareness against societal child abuse in Bond FM and Radio Continental.
The specific objectives of this study were;
- To determine how radio broadcasting influences community education and child abuse prevention strategies
- To determine the benefits of mass media programs as a tool to advocate for children’s rights
- To determine different campaign strategies that can be used in child abuse prevention strategies by Bond FM and Radio continental
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
In the year 1990–1991 reports of child abuse and neglect to Nigerian child protection authorities numbered 49,721. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (KIHW 2002), in 2000–2001 reports had increased to 115,471; following investigation, 27,367 cases were confirmed or substantiated as involving child abuse and/or neglect. The physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect of children have a long recorded history. In the mid to late 1800s, Toulmouche, Tardieu, Bernard and Lacassagne reported that children were often sexually assaulted, that children reported honestly about their abuse, and that the perpetrators of abuse were often the children’s fathers and brothers (Olafsen, Corwin and Summit 1993). Corby (1993) notes that Kempe’s discovery of the battered child syndrome in 1962, and the discoveries of child sexual abuse in Britain in the 1980s were in fact re-discoveries.
Conceptualization of childhood and adolescence
This section discusses: images of children and young people in society and in the media; media influences on children and children’s rights; and the impact of media campaigns on the victims of child abuse.
Images of children in society and the media
Journalists willing to advocate for children and young people face the challenge of counterbalancing negative images or demonization (Franklin and Horwath 1996) of children and, particularly, of adolescents, in print. It is notable that child abuse media prevention campaigns rarely, if ever, focus on the maltreatment of adolescents (rather attention is given to societal problems, perhaps stemming from child abuse, such as drug use, youth suicide and chroming (Goddard and Tucci 2002)). Similarly, as observed by Mendes (2000), drawing on Vinson (1987), Aldridge (1994) and Wilczynski and Sinclair (1999) structural disadvantages contributing to child abuse and neglect such as poverty, unemployment, and gender or racebased discrimination are rendered invisible in the media.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Introduction
This chapter presents the methodology that was used to carry out this study. Research methodology is defined as an operational framework within which the facts are placed so that their meaning may be seen more clearly. The task that follows the definition of the research problem is the preparation of the design. The methodology of this research includes the research design, population to be studied and sampling strategy, the data collection process, the instruments used for gathering data, and how data was analyzed and presented.
Research Design
This research was a case study. This research problem could best be studied through the use of a descriptive survey. Descriptive research portrays an accurate profile of persons, events, or situations (Robson, 2002). Surveys allow the collection of large amount of data from a sizable population in a highly economical way. It allows one to collect quantitative data, which can be analyzed quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics (Saunders et al., 2007). Therefore, the descriptive survey was deemed the best strategy to fulfill the objectives of this study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS
Introduction
This chapter discusses the interpretation and presentation of the findings. The general objective of the study was to determine the role of radio broadcasting in facilitating community education and child abuse prevention strategies. The specific objectives of this study were to determine how radio broadcasting influences community education and child abuse prevention strategies, to determine the benefits of mass media programs as a tool to advocate for children’s rights and to determine different campaign strategies that can be used in child abuse prevention strategies by Bond FM and Radio continental. This chapter focused on data analysis, interpretation and presentation. The researcher made use of frequency tables and percentages to present data.
The Response Rate
The researcher targeted a sample of 45 members of staff working in the broadcasting department of Bond FM and Radio continental group out of which 41 responses were obtained. This represented an 91.11% response rate. According to Babbie (2002) any response of 50% and above is adequate for analysis thus 91.11% is even better.
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Introduction
This chapter presented the discussion of key data findings, conclusion drawn from the findings highlighted and recommendation made there-to. The conclusions and recommendations drawn were focused on addressing the purpose of the study which was to determine the role of radio broadcasting in facilitating community education and child abuse prevention strategies. The specific objectives of this study were to determine how radio broadcasting influences community education and child abuse prevention strategies, to determine the benefits of mass media programs as a tool to advocate for children’s rights and to determine different campaign strategies that can be used in child abuse prevention strategies by Bond FM and Radio continental.
Discussions of Key Findings
The researcher targeted a sample of 45 members of staff working in the broadcasting department of Bond FM and Radio continental group out of which 41 responses were obtained. This represented an 91.11% response rate. According to Babbie (2002) any response of 50% and above is adequate for analysis thus 91.11% is even better. Majority of the respondents in this study were male aged between 31 and 40 years. On the highest level of their education, the study found that majority of the respondents were were university graduates and hence the acquired data was reliable. In relation to their work expirience the study revealed that majority of the respondents had been working in their organisation for 3 and above years.
How radio broadcasting influence community education and child abuse prevention strategies
The study found that child abuse is a common problem in Nigeria and radio broadcasting influences community education and child abuse prevention strategies positively. The study further established that radio broadcasting influences community education and child abuse prevention
strategies to great extent.
The study found that radio broadcasting leads to increased acceptance of the seriousness of child sexual assault (M= 4.23, SD= 0.725), a higher perception of the prevalence of child sexual assault (M= 4.00, SD= 1.08), a higher awareness of the potential for sexual abuse to be perpetrated by adults known to the child (M= 4.00, SD= 0.739), an increase in awareness of the types of organizations who could be approached for help (M= 3.85, SD= 0.76) and an increasingly strong belief that there is a need to take action to address child sexual assault (M= 3.92, SD= 0.555).
Benefits of mass media programs as a tool to advocate for children’s rights
On the benefits of mass media programs as a tool to advocate for children’s rights the study found that quality children’s magazines can enhance child development by providing positive role models of cooperation and collaboration as a responsible way of acting in the world (M= 4.23, SD= 0.725). It was also established that radio broadcasting can assist in teaching children and young people socially desirable ways of dealing with conflict (M= 4.00, SD= 1.08). the respondents further agreed that children get knowledge of their rights to integrity and protection from harm (M= 4.00, SD= 0.739). Finally the respondents indicated that radio broadcasting teaches children ways to assert themselves and their rights in a positive, acceptable manner (M= 3.92, SD= 0.76)
Campaign strategies that can be used in child abuse prevention strategies by Bond FM and Radio continental
On whether campaign strategies can be used as child abuse prevention strategies the study found that they can be used. The study also revealed that Nation radio broadcasting does not hold campaigns strategies against child abuse.
On the effects of campaign strategies in child abuse prevention the study found that campaign strategies helps the public to understand the complexity of the problem and how it could be prevented (M=3.98, SD=0.946), provides information about both the problem behavior and how to deal with it effectively (M=4.02, SD=0.834), seeks to elicit a commitment from adults to adults to develop safe and non-abusive relationships with children (M=4.27, SD=0.637), persuades adults to stop behaving in ways which are harmful to children (M=4.33, SD=0.923) educates adults about the important needs of children (M=4.32, SD=0.879), informs the adults about the causes and consequences of child abuse (M=4.12, SD=0.976) and helps the adults to engage positively with the principles of children’s rights (M=4.00, SD=0.865).
The study also revealed that media campaigns address the commonly held belief that children are a cost to society; the perceived suspicion that any application of the notion of children’s rights will mean an erosion of parent’s rights; and the public’s lack of understanding about the extent and nature of child abuse.
Conclusion
The study concludes that child abuse is a common problem in Nigeria and radio broadcasting influences community education and child abuse prevention strategies positively. Radio broadcasting leads to increased acceptance of the seriousness of child sexual assault, a higher perception of the prevalence of child sexual assault, a higher awareness of the potential for sexual abuse to be perpetrated by adults known to the child, an increase in awareness of the types of organizations who could be approached for help and an increasingly strong belief that there is a need to take action to address child sexual assault.
On the benefits of mass media programs as a tool to advocate for children’s rights the study concludes that quality children’s magazines can enhance child development by providing positive role models of cooperation and collaboration as a responsible way of acting in the world. Radio broadcasting can assist in teaching children and young people socially desirable ways of dealing with conflict.
The Nation radio broadcasting does not hold campaigns strategies against child abuse. On the effects of campaign strategies in child abuse prevention the study revealed that campaign strategies helps the public to understand the complexity of the problem and how it could be prevented, provides information about both the problem behavior and how to deal with it effectively, seeks to elicit a commitment from adults to adults to develop safe and non-abusive relationships with children, persuades adults to stop behaving in ways which are harmful to children educates adults about the important needs of children, informs the adults about the causes and consequences of child abuse and helps the adults to engage positively with the principles of children’s rights.
Recommendation
The study found that child abuse is a common problem in Nigeria and radio broadcasting influences community education and child abuse prevention strategies positively. This study therefore recommends that the mass media in Nigeria should get more involved in advocating for the rights of the child and in campaigns against child abuse.
The study also revealed that campaign strategies can be used as child abuse prevention strategies. The study further revealed that the Nation radio broadcasting does not hold campaigns strategies against child abuse. This research study therefore recommends that the Bond FM and Radio continental group should embark on campaigns on community education and child abuse prevention strategies.
The study found that the Nation radio broadcasting does not hold campaigns strategies in relation to child abuse. This study therefore recommends that the Bond FM and Radio continental group should collaborate with non governmental organizations in campaigning against child abuse and education the community on the rights of children.
Recommendation for Further Studies
From the study and related conclusions, the researcher recommends further research in the area of the effectiveness of media campaigns in facilitating community education and child abuse prevention strategies. The study also suggests further studies in the area of factors affecting community education and child abuse prevention strategies in Nigeria.
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