Foster parenting and the Abuse of the Girl Child in Selected Ebonyi State Communities

Abstract

Foster parenting  is a socially accepted practice in the society throughout sub-Saharan Africa 
which is  often seen as a way if showing care  but frequently exposes girl children to numerous 
forms of abuse. This work investigates the relationship between foster parenting 
arrangements and the abuse of the girl child in selected communities within Ebonyi State, 
south-eastern Nigeria. The research employed both   qualitative and quantitative social 
research methods for data collection. Data were collected from 150 girl children aged 5 to 
17 years and 42 key informants, including foster parents, community leaders, school teachers, 
and social workers.   Structured questionnaire, in-depth and focus group discussion were 
used. The study used Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory and feminist 
standpoint theory as theoretical base. Findings reveal that as much as 82% of foster girl 
children experienced two or more regular forms of abuse, including physical violence, 
emotional maltreatment, neglect, forced domestic labour, sexual abuse, and denial of 
educational access.  Foster children living with relatives suffer high   rates of neglect and 
labour exploitation, while formal foster homes recorded comparatively higher rates of sexual 
abuse. Factors , like poverty, patriarchy, cultural permissiveness, and institutional failure, 
were identified as key contribute factors. The study recommended fast policy reform, 
enhancing child protection frameworks, and culturally sensitive community interventions to 
alter the level of abuse within foster care systems in Ebonyi State and similar contexts across 
Nigeria.