Modeling the Differential Incidence of Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in Poor Households in South Africa: Focus on Child Trafficking

Abstract

This paper is based on an in-progress Ph.D. research themed: Modeling the Differential Incidence of Child Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in Poor Households in South Africa. The aim of the research is to build a theoretical grounding and to propose a practical model for understanding child abuse. The research argues that the gaps and shortcomings in understanding child abuse are, to a large extent, the consequence of an over-estimation of socio-economic variables as main variables contributing to the incidence of child abuse. The paper does not attempt to collect data on child trafficking to explain its extent in South Africa but aims to suggest the use of the Integrated Modeled Theory (IMT) to facilitate the understanding of the incidence of child abuse in general and child trafficking in particular. The IMT combines contributing variables from various theories to explain the incidence of child abuse (including child trafficking) and suggests mechanisms for prevention of and interventions against child abuse (child trafficking). The IMT is therefore a tool that assists in the decision-making process for prevention and intervention actions against child trafficking during and after the 2010 Fifa World Cup tournament seen as a great opportunity for child traffickers.