KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD'S RIGHTS AND PERCEIVED PARENTAL COMPLIANCE AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN IBADAN NORTH-EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations convention on the rights of the child, which affirms children's entitlement to development, protection, non-discrimination and participation, thereby maintaining their complete state of physical, mental and social well-being. Child's Rights (CR) education, aids the prevention of child abuse. However, in Nigeria, few studies have focused on Knowledge of Child's Rights (KCR) among children, and perceived parental compliance with these rights. This study was designed to assess KCR and perception of parental compliance among primary school pupils in lbadan North-East Local Government Area (IBNELGA),Oyo State. This cross-sectional survey used a four-stage sampling technique to select IBNELGA, 15 public primary schools out of 52, primaries five and six 408 pupils. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire, which included 18-point knowledge scale on CR, 16-point scale each on perceived mothers' and fathers' compliance to CR, and perceived reasons influencing parental compliance, was used for data collection. Knowledge scores of ≤9 and ≥ 10 and perceived compliance scores of ≤ 8 and ≥ 9 were classified as poor and good respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression tests at 0.05 level of significance. Mean age was 11.5 ± 1.4 years, 94.4% were Yoruba, 66.7% were from monogamous families and 64.2% lived with both parents. Fifty-two percent were males, 51.0% in primary six, 23.8% and 22.8% were first and last born respectively. Thirty-nine percent were aware of CR. Thirty-six percent were aware of child right to health. Respondents' sources of information included mothers (21.1%), fathers (7.6%) and teachers (5.9%). Few of the respondents (26.7%) had good KCR. Respondents' mean knowledge score of CR was 5.3 ± 4.2. Few respondents perceived their mothers' (16.7%) and fathers' (12.5%) compliance as good. Mean perceived compliance scores for mothers and fathers were 5.5± 2.2 and 5.2 ± 2.2 respectively. Majority (60.5%) reported that their mothers never allowed them to choose what they would eat and engaged them in hawking after school hours. Majority (53.9%) had been sexually harassed while hawking and those who refused hawking (61.6%) were denied dinner. Respondents were never taken to the hospital when sick by mothers (62.0%) and fathers (63.7%). Cultural beliefs (72.3%), religious beliefs (77.7%) and poverty (74.5%) were perceived reasons influencing poor parental compliance to CR. Last born children were significantly more likely to have good KCR than other birth orders (OR: 1.9, 95% Ck 1.1-3.3). Males (OR: 1.7, 95% 1.2-3.9) and primary six pupils (OR: 2.5, 95% Cl: 1.3-4.9) were more likely to be aware of CR. Knowledge of child's rights among the pupils in lbadan North-East Local Government Area and their perceived parental compliance with the rights were poor. School and community-based child rights' awareness programmes are vital in addressing the gaps identified.