RED FLAGS AND CHILD ABUSE AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN OYE EKITI

Child maltreatment is a global predicament that pervades all corners of the world. Nonetheless, determining an exact count or prevalence rate is problematic due to under-reporting caused by fear, shame, and social stigma surrounding such incidents. In Africa, child maltreatment is prevalent and widely accepted compared to other cultures as parents regard physical discipline as a means of child-rearing and instilling moral values in their offspring; thus, physical and behavioural cues are often disregarded or downplayed. Thus this study investigates red flags of child Abuse among adolescents in Oye-Ekiti. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 200 teenage respondents highlighting both behavioral and physical indicators of child maltreatment along with various measures implemented to mitigate its occurrence. The findings revealed that most adolescents believed parental fear and going home (35%) was a potent behavioral indicator while unexplained bruises and welts (42%) were the strongest physical markers for detecting child abuse among teenagers. Consequently, this research recommends tailored counseling approaches primarily targeting parents and other agents of socialization alongside prompt responses from relevant authorities when reporting cases involving both affected parties as well as non-victims alike.