Factors contributing to child neglect among young mothers incarcerated for neglecting their children

Abstract

Child neglect is a major public health concern that compromises the socio-emotional, psychological and academic functioning of toddlers, young children and adolescents born to young mothers. This study set out to explore the factors contributing to child neglect among young mothers incarcerated for neglecting their children in Maseru, Lesotho. The study, is informed by the Problem-behaviour theory. In an attempt to provide suitable responses to the research problem, the qualitative phenomenology design was adopted and semi-structured interviews were utilised with four social workers and nine young mothers to collect the data. Thematic analysis was useful in identifying the themes and subthemes from the data gathered. The study found out that child neglect among young mothers is extensive and that young mothers’ poor background in terms of poverty increases the rate of child neglect. Additionally, the findings also show that the most prevalent subtypes of child neglect were supervisory neglect and physical neglect. According to the results of the study, multiple factors cause young mothers to neglect their children, and among these are: unemployment, limited knowledge that leaving a child unsupervised is a criminal offence, maternal history of childhood abuse, lack of social support, mental illness and in some cases, spiritual attacks. In light of these findings, young mothers have seemingly developed a positive attitude towards parenting yielded by the provision of time to time rehabilitation services. The study recommends that, parenting practices and provision of family support be developed. Specifically, the provision of parenting education and training in this capacity, for all parents, guardians or future parents can also be advantageous.