EFFECTIVENESS OF BROADCASTING IN COMBATING CHILD ABUSE IN SOUTHEAST NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the level effectiveness of broadcast media in combating child abuse in South-East Nigeria. The study was undertaken given the disturbing high prevalence of cases of child rights abuses especially in South-East Nigeria. The objectives were to find out the level of awareness the broadcast media have created on child abuse, the quality, frequency and timing of such programmes; the programmes’ overall effectiveness; the level of public compliance with these messa.ges and the challenges the broadcasters and broadcasting houses face in combating child abuse. Two hypotheses were formulated to test the variables in this study. The study was anchored on the social responsibility and the agenda-setting theories of the mass media. Survey research method and in-depth interview were used in collecting data for the study. Three states: Anambra, Enugu and Imo were randomly selected for the study from where the sample size of 385 respondents was selected using the Australian online Calculator. The six research questions raised in this study were addressed using the frequency distribution table and charts and these were analyzed using simple percentages and textual analysis. The hypothesis was tested using chi-square. The findings of this study show that the broadcast media have created awareness on the issue of child abuse; that the programmes’ quality, frequency and timing are all good; the broadcast media were also found to be effective in their efforts at combating child abuse. The level of public compliance is however, low. The major challenges the broadcast media face in combating child abuse are lack of funds, sponsorship, government subvention and public apathy. It is therefore; recommended that the media should step up their advocacy role, be more public-oriented in their programmes, and canvass for the incorporation of child’s rights in the curricula from primary to tertiary institutions of learning.