Child protection: issues and challenges in Bindura urban

Author

Muringweni, Kudzai W.

Title

Child protection: issues and challenges in Bindura urban

Abstract

The Child Protection: Issues and challenges in Bindura Urban study was precipitated by the fact that ideally Community Childcare Workers are supposed to provide child protection services to children but face a number of challenges in doing so. The study had the following objectives: to explore child protection issues handled by CCWs, to examine the challenges faced by CCWs in child protection and to ascertain strategies that can incorporated to strengthen the work done by CCWs. The study made use of a qualitative research design making use of focus group discussions and key informants interviews as data collection methods. The study found out that child abuse in the form of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, was a major theme or child protection issues handled by community childcare workers (CCWs) in Bindura. The research noted that CCWs in child protection face monetary challenges in the form of funds for child protection projects. They also lack well-trained child protection officers. The research also reported that there is need for programming rights-based approaches to strengthen the work done by CCWs in child protection. The study then concluded that CCWs handle different child protection issues however, they face challenges in carrying out their work hence the need to explore strategies that can be incorporated to strengthen the work they do. The study recommends that there is need for provision of legal protection for example ensuring that children’s rights are protected. There is also need for child welfare services to the vulnerable children. There is also need for well trained protection officers to avoid brain drain.

Date

June 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Child abuse

Child protection

Community childcare workers

Supervisor

Dr. L. Zinyemba