Abstract
This study explored the Role of child support policies in mitigating child abuse in Lagos Mainland L.G.A, Lagos State Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to explore prevalence of child support policies curbing child abuse, identify the major causes of child abuse, find out the impact of child support policies in mitigating child abuse, and proffer solutions towards improving child support policies that could mitigate child abuse in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State. The study adopted structural-functionalism and symbolic interactionism as the theoretical framework upon which this study is hinged. Mixed method research design was employed as sampling techniques for this study. The population of the study is 317, 980 residents, out of which a sample size of 204 respondents were generated using Taro Yamane (1967) statistical formula. Multi-stage sampling techniques were adopted in selecting the respondents. The instruments for data collection were a structured Questionnaire and In-Depth Interview (IDI) guides. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistic and the results were presented in simple percentages, charts and frequency distribution tables. The study hypotheses were tested using Chi-square (X2) inferential statistics. The data collected from the IDI were analyzed thematically using Nvivo (version 2.1) software. The study found that child support policies are highly effective in curbing child abuse in Lagos Mainland LGA. The study also found that child support policies are yet to gain adequate enforcement/implementation in some suburban areas of Lagos Mainland LGA. The study therefore recommends among other things, that the child abuse can be minimized by increasing public awareness about child support policies in Lagos Mainland LGA, Lagos State.