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.
