Policies and programs to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana

This study examined policies and programs to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana. In the thesis, I discussed values that guide child-care in Ghana, the daily realities of children and families, and policies and programs to promote family wellness and prevent child maltreatment. Lastly, I looked at the climate for prevention and early intervention. I presented recommendations under each of these sections. In the first part of the literature review, I examined some definitions of child maltreatment, the prevalence rate, etiology, and consequences of maltreatment. In the second part, I reviewed some policies and programs to prevent child maltreatment in the industrialized world. In the third section, I gave a brief account on Ghana and its people and then analyzed child maltreatment in the African/Ghanaian context. I investigated some child-rearing practices of African society, causes of child maltreatment in Ghana, and lastly, delineated policies and programs instituted and implemented to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana. This qualitative study used interviews to elicit response from participants, which allowed them to express their views in a vivid manner. The results indicate that Ghanaians love children and cherish them but due to economic hardships and other issues, these values are being relegated to the background. It was found that child maltreatment is rife in Ghana and that there are some policies and programs to prevent it However, these policies and programs have been plagued with problems. In the discussion section, I integrated the available literature with the results. I organized them according to the five main categories of the results: values, context of the problem, policies, programs, and climate for prevention. Lastly, I made practical suggestions and recommendations under each of the categories for serious consideration to prevent child maltreatment and promote family wellness in Ghana