Dissertation (MA Sociology)
The study focuses on The Community Perception on Child Physical Abuse in
Tanzania: A Case of Ilala Municipality as a social problem affecting some of
children under the study area. It was guided by the following specific objectives; to
identify community‘s perception on children physical abuse, to determine the effects
of children physical abuse on growth and to explore the roles of civil society
organizations and the government on eradicating child physical abuse.
Sample size of one hundred and two (102) respondents was employed so as to get
appropriate and consistent information concerning the study. Purposive sampling and
simple random sampling procedures were utilized whereby social survey and personal
interview used as a method of data collection. Questionnaire and interview schedule
were used as tools for data collection to get primary and secondary data. Data analysis
was employed both qualitative and quantitative with the help of Statistical Package for
Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 15.
The results from this study reveal that the community has different perceptions
according to status. The community perceive child physical abuse as moderate but
social workers acknowledged it as high because they deal with cases. They mentioned
the effects of child physical abuse, psychological problem as the leading one. The
cases are not reported because of many factors like corruption; perpetrators‘ are
sometimes parents, guardians and neighbors.
In view of that, the study recommends that in order to stamp out child physical abuse
there should be unity among all stakeholders that is; government, non-government
organizations and the entire community.