International Journal of Law, Humanities & Social Science Volume 1, Issue 2 (June 2017), P.P. 40-47, ISSN (ONLINE):2521-0793; ISSN (PRINT):2521-0785 www.ijlhss.com 40 | Page CHILD ABUSE INFLUENCE ON LOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPIL’S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN A RURAL SETTING IN KENYA Mukami T. Mutua 1 , Ong’ang’a H.M. Ouko 2 1 (Postgraduate student, Kenyatta University) 2 (Lecturer, Department of Early Childhood Studies, Kenyatta University, Kenya) Abstract: Child abuse is an act of inflicting serious, physical injury and emotional torture on a child or person, which is intentional or unintentional and could endanger the physical, health, emotional, social, moral and educational wellness of the child. Observing the alarming endless cry of children in lower primary schools and those hurt in the process and abuse, the researcher was therefore interested in investigating child abuse and its effects on the academic achievement of pupils in lower primary in Nyandarua County. To achieve this purpose, a sample of 42 respondents was randomly selected for the study. Questionnaire was the major instrument used to collect data. Test re-test reliability of the instrument was established, while Parson Product moment correlation analysis was the statistical technique considered appropriate. The result of the analysis revealed that child abuse in forms of physical and sexual was associated with pupil’s academic performance. Based on the findings recommendations were made on the need for the school management and the class teachers to monitor the performance of abused children and take records to relevant authorities so that corrective mechanisms can be employed. Keywords - academic performance, child abuse, pupils in lower primary Research Area: Psychology Paper Type: Research Paper 1. INTRODUCTION Child abuse is a practice in which children are maltreated, battered or deprived of some basic needs in the home, street, religious houses or at school by the elderly (Denga & Denga, 2007). Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) also defined child abuse as any act or series of acts of child abuse or neglect performed by a parent or other caregiver that result in harm. This has been recognized as a violation of the rights of the child through adoption of the convention of the Rights of the child by many countries in the world. The convention recognizes the significance of liberty, equality and nurturance as essential preservation of children’s integrity as individuals. These have been reflected in the constitution across the world in each nation, whether developed or developing. Despite, all these, there are still high incidences of the problem of child abuse across the globe. In Nigeria, Chalk, Gibbons and Scaupa (2002) observed that child abuse negatively influences the child physically, psychologically and in behaviour. Physical problems associated with child abuse at home leads to destruction of a child’s developing brain and thus delay in cognitive development reflected in psychological manifestations. Psychological complex affects the abused child academically and ultimately low grades. This way, child