The Nature, Extent and Causes of Abuse of Children with Disabilities in Schools in Botswana

Abstract

Studies show that the exact number of children with disabilities in Botswana is unknown. A study on child abuse sought to determine: the forms of child abuse perpetrated on children with disabilities; the extent of child abuse; and the causes of child abuse of children with disabilities. A questionnaire on child abuse was adapted and used to collect data in this study. Participants comprised a sample of 31 pupils with disabilities (15 children with vision impairment and 16 children with hearing impairment) selected from special schools in Botswana. The study found that the majority of participants were involved in doing domestic chores. They were also sexually, physically and emotionally abused by their teachers. This study showed that children with disabilities were vulnerable to child abuse in their schools.

Persons with disabilities as experts-by experience: using personal narratives to affect community attitudes in Kilifi, Kenya

“…Cultural beliefs and traditional practices have been commonly associated with negative images [ 12 , 15 – 18 ] and concepts that inspire fear in others [ 4 ]. Thus the explanations of disability that were espoused by members of this East African community, e.g.…”

“…Thus the explanations of disability that were espoused by members of this East African community, e.g. preternatural forces [ 12 , 15 – 19 ], may have shaped the images of abnormality and dysfunction that featured in the groups’ discussions. As suggested by Meloni et al [ 1 ], the polarisation of the individual/medical and social models is more a product of culture than cognition, which infers a learning process.…”

“…Some of the distaste associated with disability in sub-Saharan Africa may lie in the cultural explanations that imply: breach of social conventions, e.g. in Botswana [ 12 ], Ghana [ 13 ], Kenya [ 14 – 16 ], Tanzania [ 17 ], Malawi [ 18 ]; external, preternatural forces, e.g. in Kenya [ 14 – 16 ], Namibia [ 17 ],; and the will of God [ 19 – 22 ].…”

Empowering self-help groups for caregivers of children with disabilities in Kilifi, Kenya: Impacts and their underlying mechanisms

“…Zimmerman and colleagues [31][32][33][34]58] might explain this as the antithesis of empowerment. Having a child with a disability was considered generally incongruent with acceptability in the prevailing culture, and indeed triggered negative responses from others in the family and in the community as reported previously [4,5,[17][18][19][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Thus both caregiver and child were effectively marginalised in their own community, with a lack of knowledge, limited support and no opportunity for joining their efforts with others-critical components of the empowerment construct described by Perkins & Zimmerman [58].…”

Child Developmental Disabilities, Caregivers’ Role in Kenya and Its Implications on Global Migration

“…Even though the model of inclusive education is part of the sustainable development goals, in Kenya, there still exist schools which only cater for children with DDs. Some parents believe that this system protects their children from sexual abuses which has been noted in other African countries such as Botswana [39] and Malawi [40].…”