Protecting Children from Faith-Based Abuse through Accusations of Witchcraft and Spirit Possession
Understanding Contexts and Informing Practice
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 10897084 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stephen Briggs (0000-0003-4966-7503, University of East London, London, UK, corresponding author), Andrew Whittaker (0000-0003-4686-1079, London South Bank University, London, UK) |
| Year | 2018 |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 2157-2175 |
| Publication date | 2018-12-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal of Social Work (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0045-3102 • E-ISSN: 1468-263X |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/bjsw/bcx155 |
| OpenAlex | W2767217523 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 19 |
Faith-based abuse relating to the practice of witchcraft and spirit possession is a controversial and not well-understood form of child abuse. From its ‘discovery’ in the UK as a cause of abuse, serious injury and death for children, in 2000 to the present, the recent history of witchcraft and spirit possession involves some high-profile cases, involving serious harm and death for some children, which attracted significant publicity. This article reviews research and commentary, including grey literature, and the emerging policy framework. It discusses the underpinning relationship between faith-based practices and abuse, and takes a post-colonial perspective to discuss the social explanations for the continuing practice of witchcraft and spirit possession in contemporary society. These discussions are then shown to inform practice. Practice priorities are informed assessment of suspected cases, through early and statutory interventions, care for survivors and an important focus on community engagement to prevent this form of child abuse.
Criminology · Environmental ethics · Faith · Harm · Mantra · Political science · Possession (linguistics) · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Sociology · Statutory law · Theology · Child Abuse and Trauma · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Law · Medicine · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology
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A typology of reviews
The reflective practitioner
The Devil's Children
No Room for Religion or Spirituality or Cooking Tips’
The Role of Religion and Spirituality in Social Work Practice
Assessing the Influence of Religious Beliefs and Practices on Parenting Capacity
Witchcraft stigmatization in Nigeria
Postcolonialism
The Interpretation of Cultures
Cartographies of Diaspora
| Citations per year | 0.63 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2018 - 2026 (9) |
| Highly cited | No |