CULTURAL BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE SOCIAL WORK CHILD PROTECTION INTERVENTIONS: A CASE OF BANYOLE TRIBE IN BUTALEJA DISTRICT

Abstract

The study investigated the cultural barriers to effective social work child protection interventions among the Banyole in Butaleja district. It was a qualitative study and used interviews, focus group discussions to obtain data from the 32 respondents. Among the study's important findings were cultural practices that favored child welfare, which included possession of knowledge about child protection/rights, a service access system through kinship, and the existence of an elderly judicial system for child abuse. Some prohibitive norms emerged, and these included respect for patriarchal structures that restrict children’s opportunities and foster harmful practices such as early marriage, involvement of children in clan spiritual performance like unavoidable traditional worshipping, and helping child right abusers to hide when authorities like police look for them. Suggested solutions for the conflicting norms with social work in child protection included training social workers about local cultures, raising awareness on child rights and protection, and involving respected community figures in child protection initiatives. Conclusively, effective social work practice with children in among the Banyole is sometimes hindered by the non-material/intrinsic culture which take the shape of spiritual possession (ghost worshipping) especially girls and patriarchal structure with authorities for decision making that restrict children opportunities and foster harmful practices such as child labour, early marriage although there were positive norms that social workers can utilize to improve the welfare of children including use of elderly judicial system for child abuse. The recommended involvement of duly respected traditional leaders and elders should be crucial to allow social workers and Non-Governmental Organizations to influence public opinion and norms positively. Thus, they would provide the necessary leadership toward changing harmful norms and, in turn, allow the community to appreciate values and beliefs from a social work perspective and framework, towards positive change.