The publication of research in international journals on child abuse in Africa has been restricted to a few articles, and there is a need to refine research programs, publish findings in a format accessible to professionals, and act on research findings. Conferences and seminars on child abuse and neglect in Africa have provided the arena for debate and discussion. Themes at the Second African Conference on Child Abuse, held in 1993, reflected areas of concern for practitioners and researchers alike: difficulties in defining child abuse due to variations in cultural attitudes toward such abuse; male domination over women and the importance of advocacy for women's rights; effects of socioeconomic factors and political instability on the position of children in African society; and existence of abusive practices such as child labor, female circumcision, and family violence. Child abuse research that has been conducted deals primarily with effective prevention programs in developing countries and risk factors for child abuse. Recommendations are offered to encourage child advocacy and to develop a plan of action that protects the rights of both children and adults and that changes attitudes and perceptions of adults toward children. 19 references