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facets which combine to produce the stresses so conducive to abuse. Generally,
however; these studies agree with studies conducted in other parts of the world.
(d) Child abuse in the Indian population
The reality of child abuse is being faced by the Indian population, a hitherto passive
group, whose children were regarded as their "wealth". According to Haffejee, (1991)
specialist paediatrician and senior lecturer attached to the Department of Paediatrics
and Child Welfare at the University of Natal, and R.K Khan Hospital, child abuse is
on the increase among the Indians. In his study, he found injuries ranging from sexual
abuse, to burning by boiling water, poisoning and assault. It would seem that another
myth has been exploded, as it was thought that child abuse occurred only among the
White and Coloured populations, and very rarely among Africans and Indians.
In a paper presented by Shah & Naidu (Chetty 1986), then 6th year medical students
at a Students' Medical Conference in 1985, it emerged that during the past five years,
child abuse had risen at an alarming rate of almost 100% each year. They found that
an inadequate society, plagued by escalating poverty, unemployment and crowded
living conditions, generated stress and tension, which in turn led to parents abusing
their children. A factor which may further play a part in the increase in child abuse
among the Indian population, is the emergence of the nuclear family, and the decline
of the extended family system together with the support (moral, financial, social and
emotional) which it offered (Chetty 1986: 7). Mahmood (1977: 283) says that in the
extended family, there are fewer chances of child abuse than in the nuclear family, as
there are always other family members to lend a hand and relieve the parents of the
ongoing responsibility of caring for youngsters. Moreover, a watchful eye is kept on
parent - child relationships, so that parents are not so free to ill-treat their children.
In the nuclear family, comprising mother, father and children, there is a high level of
interaction and dependence, as the family is structurally isolated from other relatives.
Any friction between the members, therefore, becomes magnified and disrupts the
individual's primary relationships (Ramphal 1985 : 79). Within the extended family