Impact Of Child Abuse On Academic Performance Of Junior High School Students At New Juaben South Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of child abuse on the academic performance of junior high school (JHS) students at New Juaben South Municipality in Ghana. The descriptive survey design was utilised. A sample of 98 JHS 2 students selected through cluster, simple random and proportionate sampling techniques. Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. Research question one was analysed using frequencies and percentages. Research hypotheses were analysed using regression analyses. The findings revealed a distressing prevalence of abuse among the JHS students, with psychological abuse being the most prevalent form, affecting 69.4% of the student population. Physical abuse followed closely, reported by 46.9% of students, while sexual abuse was disturbingly prevalent, with 36.7% of participants revealing their ordeal. Moreover, a significant number of students reported experiencing multiple forms of abuse concurrently. The analysis showed that as psychological abuse and physical abuse increased, academic performance tended to decrease. However, no significant relationship was observed between sexual abuse and academic performance. Based on the findings, the study recommends educational institutions prioritize creating safe and supportive environments, implement comprehensive training programs to identify and address signs of abuse, and establish clear reporting and support systems.