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abandonment. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that they are in the main
responsible for the care of the children.
The literature has shown that abusing parents have been abused themselves as
children and know no other way of disciplining their children. They have not learned
how to "parent". There are factors that pre-dispose the child to abuse: prematurity,
retardation, physical handicaps and the fact that the child is perceived by the parents
as being "different".
The review of the literature has emphasised the importance of the multi-disciplinary
team in the treatment and prevention of child abuse. The role of a specialised unit in
treating and preventing child abuse is recommended by some authors. Case
conferences are described as a useful means of discussing cases intensively and
reporting back to a committee or specialised unit.
Education for family life, the outlawing of family violence, involving lay people in
running community programmes, the development ofbetter services in the community
are all discussed as ways of preventing child abuse.
In the light of the findings of this research, the following was recommended :
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school social workers should be trained and placed at schools to assist and
identify pedagogically neglected children;
that there should be a staff training programme for teachers with regard to
the identification, intervention and counselling of abuse cases;
educational programmes directed at school children, parents, parents-to-be
and professionals, are essential for the prevention of child abuse.