The Issue of Child Safety in Slums of Africa - Coursework Example

Research Design Critique: Challenges of child protection in the urban slums of Africa RESEARCH DESIGN CRITIQUE: CHALLENGES OF CHILD PROTECTION IN THE URBAN SLUMS OF AFRICA Abstract The research presents a design critique on “Challenges of child protection in the urban slums of Africa. The study, therefore, examines views of children living in urban slums and challenges encountered in protecting their rights. It focuses on the problem explored, objectives, and study design, the sample for study, data collection, ethical considerations and limitations to the study. The research seeks to recognize how people understand childhood, the community-based child protection mechanisms that exist and used. Research indicates that in Africa, urban residents in the current regime living in slums especially the children are deprived of many opportunities that every child is supposed to have as they grow up (Lassonde, 2014). Statement of the problem The world’s urban population rises by about 60 Million every year with most of the urban growth taking place in Asia and Africa. A majority of urban population constitutes of children and youths under the age of 20. Africa governments and city authorities often associate urban slums with illegality, social ills viewed as propagation ground for drug trafficking, prostitution, crime, and diseases. Life in urban slums has exposed young youths and children to a static environment with no development but has an adverse impact on their lives (Nanjunda, 2008). Children born in slums are likely to suffer from deadly diseases, violence, sexual abuse and insecurity. They are denied many opportunities that are essential in their lives as they develop. Slums are characterized by deficiencies such overcrowding due to the high number of population. Poor sanitation which results in diseases such as typhoid and outbreak of cholera. Insecurity arises from theft due to poverty. Poor housing conditions and low standards of living. United Nations Conventions on Rights of the Child is a legal instrument in child protection and is endorsed by most of the nations in Africa (Hollick & Connelly, 2011). Purpose of the study The purpose of this study seeks to establish the constraints faces in child protection in the urban slums of African countries. Raising health standards and ensuring the safety of children requires association and union of families, the national government and parents. Laws to protect children, the level of abuse, violence and exploitation of children especially in urban slums are still high in African countries. Implementation of a legal framework ensures that cases of child abuse are minimal. The fundamental problem facing most economies in Africa such as East Africa is that urbanization is determined by poverty-driven economy survival strategy rather than economic growth (Garcia et al., 2008). Over urbanization, a state where the urban population is growing to a great extent than the urban economies increases urban poverty therefore leading to increased prevalence of urban slums. Children in urban setting have a broad scale of political, cultural, civil, improved institutional framework for the protection and economic rights recognized by both the national and international appliance. The systems of protection weaken due to risk factors such as diseases, displacement, poverty and disaster (Davis, 2006). Objectives of the research The general objective of the study was to determine the constraints of child protection in the urban slums of Africa. Specific objectives are: · To determine the behavior of children living in urban slums of Africa and household social-economic characteristics. · To identify the shortcomings experienced by children in urban slums of countries in Africa. · To examine the social challenges faced by children in the urban slums of Africa. · To investigate challenges faced by the African governments in their efforts to solve problems faced by children in urban slums. Identifying and examining major constrictions such as inequality in child health services, education, poor nutrition and disparities in securing children’s rights in the urban settings meet the objectives of the study. The government in African countries should guarantee the needs and priorities of children achieved through the development of infrastructure and urban planning. Poverty is a major factor in most developing countries especially in urban areas. Many children are denied essential urban life advantages were forcing them to engage in activities that have a negative impact on their lives (Garcia et al., 2008). Countries in Africa invariably report high number of cases of exploitation and child abuse despite the existence of advanced laws to protect children. The state parties are called upon by the legal instruments to protect its children against all forms of harm experienced. They include child abuse, trafficking and abduction, child labor, torture, sexual exploitation and dispossession of liberty. Creating awareness on how to control the level of the population by engaging in programs such as family planning that is a significant factor affecting the poor in the slums (Garcia et al., 2008). The study design The study design to be employed is the Grounded theory approach which focuses on qualitative data analytically with the purpose of discovering a method. It interprets and ascertains innovative understanding of the behavior of human beings generated from their language. It is the appropriate research method derived from sociology and merge detailed technique of research with a practical theory of action and methodological guidelines (Merriam, 1998). Grounded theory is appropriate in that it can be used to explain previous theories that are grounded. It provides for intense data from the individuals experiences in the field of study hence assisting in collecting sufficient data. The researcher in this approach, therefore, selects diverse cases as a whole there variables relate to generating several outcomes as a unit. It provides a systematic and accurate procedure for collecting data which is ongoing throughout the study research. Consequently, it involves iteration whereby the researcher asks questions intended to generate a theory concerning certain features of social life. (Merriam, 1998). The grounded theory may not be appropriate due to some factors arising such as difficulty in preventing bias generated by the researcher. Biases of the researcher results to difficulties in the verifying consistency of information required. The nature of outcomes that are highly qualitative are hard to present in cases used by practitioners (Merriam, 1998). Sample of study Using an example is mostly preferred because it saves time and costs spent while collecting data for the research. It ensures adequate number of the population selected with suitable characteristics. Findings are used to generalize the perception of the entire population. Respondents should have a better understanding of the research in question as this will assist in collecting more data that is appropriate. The total number intended for obtaining the sample is 100 individuals who will be during the process. The target group selected will consist of 40 women, 30 men and 30 children from Kibera slum in Kenya. The sample is taken from this group because sufficient information for the study is likely to be as this is the population victimized by the challenges of child protection. It is important to select a sample since it is not possible to collect data from all regions in the affected area (Runeson & Höst, 2009). Data collection Data in Qualitative research is obtained from the small sample since it is time-consuming. Information acquired has a profound approach to the incident under study. Collection of data for the research study will be through individual interviews where the interviewer gets to ask individuals from the target group some questions in the scoping study. Interacting with the group results in acquiring adequate information that is genuine. Observation is used to collect data where one can examine the surroundings of the selected region of study and get the information required, for example, the environment and living conditions of the people in the area. The researchers turn out to be part of the culture in their study. It enables them present their study suitably. Other sources that might have been appropriate for collecting data include administering questionnaires where the residents are required to fill in the in the answers according to the questions asked. Focus groups and action research can be used to acquire information needed (Basu et al., 2005). Ethical considerations Researchers involved in the research study with children ensure that the research is ethical. Major ethical considerations to be in the study are honesty. One is not supposed misrepresent data and should give correct data because it will be used, in general, to discuss the entire region on the research topic. Record the factors affecting the children in urban slums and problems they experience. Avoiding carelessness and keeping good records of the data collected since conclusions are drawn from this information (Flewitt*, 2005). One should be open by sharing idea and resources hence ensuring collection of sufficient data. Respecting the intellectual property by avoiding the use of unpublished data and avoid plagiarism. Ensure confidentiality by protecting communication that is confident. Maintain legality by knowing government and institutional laws and obeying their laws. Keep social good social responsibility while conducting the research as it entails meeting and dealing with different groups of individuals in order to collect correct information. From the study, the researcher will obtain data from individuals of who most are not civilized therefore one should know how to handle them (Recker, 2013). Limitations to the study Researchers are likely to face many challenges while collecting data. A limitation to generality where the areas under study do not have a sample to represent the collected data. Respondents, where data is to be collected, can be hostile to researchers. This limitation is common in most cases have to gather data on a one to one basis especially when one is being interviewed. A minimum time for conducting the research study limits the researchers from collecting more data. It is therefore not possible to carry out the research for a long time. Dealing with a group of people that is not civilized is a significant challenge. The researchers are at a high risk of contaminating diseases from the slums due to the prevailing conditions in the area (Cohen, 2011). References Basu, A., Jaising, I., & Collective, L. (2005). Violence against women: a statistical overview, and challenges and gaps in data collection and methodology and approaches for overcoming them. Retrieved March, 4, 2008. Cohen, N., & Arieli, T. (2011). Field research in conflict environments: Methodological challenges and snowball sampling. Journal of Peace Research, 48(4), 423-435. Davis, M. (2006). Planet of slums. London New York: Verso. Flewitt*, R. (2005). Conducting research with young children: Some ethical considerations. Early child development and care, 175(6), 553-565. Garcia, M., Pence, A. & Evans, J. (2008). Africas future, Africas challenge early childhood care and development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Washington, DC: World Bank. Hollick, M. & Connelly, C. (2011). Hope For Humanity how understanding and healing trauma could solve the planetary crisis. Lanham: O-Books. Lassonde, L. (2014). Coping with Population Challenges. Hoboken: Taylor and Francis. Merriam, S. B. (1998). Qualitative Research and Case Study Applications in Education. Revised and Expanded from" Case Study Research in Education.” Jossey-Bass Publishers, 350 Sansome St, San Francisco, CA 94104. Nanjunda, D. (2008). Child labor and human rights: a prospective. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. Recker, J. (2013). Ethical Considerations in Research. In Scientific Research in Information Systems (pp. 141-147). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. Runeson, P., & Host, M. (2009). Guidelines for conducting and reporting case study research in software engineering. Empirical software engineering, 14(2), 131-164. Read More