Risk Assessment: How Crucial in Determining Child's Susceptibility to Abuse in Nigeria

Abstract

There is a global concern to curtail the prevalence of child abuse. However, certain difficulties are posed in meeting this objective in Nigeria, because child social workers often lack the practical or theoretical skills for detecting those children that are susceptible to abuse and thus, in need of early protective measures. This paper is therefore concerned with isolating those risk assessment procedures or factors based on foreign research that would assist professionals in identifying children that are potentially at risk of abuse from parents or guardians and assess their relevance for effective management and reduction of cases of child abuse in Nigeria.


(IFE PsychologIA: 2003 11 (1): 117-122)