Corporal Punishment and Other Corrective Measures for Children in Domestic Settings in Ghana: Perspectives of Children and Parents

Correcting children is a crucial component of their growth. In Ghana, there is limited research on corrective measures for children in domestic settings and from the perspectives of children and parents using nationally representative data. This study examined the prevalence and type of corrective measures for children, sex differentials in corrective measures, the perpetrators of corrective measures, the reasons for carrying out corrective measures, and children’s and parents’ opinions on corrective measures and their appropriateness. Secondary mixed-method data from the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection was used for this study. The quantitative data involved 5,024 children aged 8 to 17, while the qualitative data involved 10 focus group discussions and 50 key informant interviews. Respondents were from 48 districts selected from all regions of Ghana. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square were used to analyze the quantitative data, while the qualitative data were thematically analyzed. About 88% of children experienced corrective measures for their misbehavior at home in the last six months. Corporal punishment was the most common corrective measure used for children, and more mothers disciplined children than fathers. However, mothers disciplined children for minor misbehaviors, while fathers disciplined children for major misbehaviors. Generally, children and parents agreed on the need to discipline children for their misbehavior. However, children are of the view that the corrective measure should be non-violent. Corporal punishment was the most common discipline measure used for children. Parents should be educated to use non-violent corrective measures that do not endanger children when disciplining them.