Child Abuse

Child Abuse

Introduction

This research paper will involve the reviewing of the issue of child abuse. Child abuse is an issues that has been happening in the society since the ancient times. However, in the modern world, the categorization and the definition of child abuse has changed. Definition of child abuse will involve the inclusion of the different forms of the abuse, common modes of child abuse and the interventions that can be used for addressing of the issues of child abuse. There are different reasons as to why the research study about child abuse is important in the current world, due to the fact that the gathering of data and information about child abuse will help in the devising of strategies and ways of addressing this crisis. According to reports by different organizations such as World Health Organization(WHO), most of the cases of child abuse can be avoided or even treated. Forms of child abuse such as physical, sexual, neglect and even emotional or psychological abuse can be prevented through understanding them.

Rationale for the selection of the topic of child abuse as a research paper is to pass information to the people about the adverse effects associated with child abuse, interventions which can be used for addressing the issue of child abuse and the possible reasons for the increase in the cases of child abuse in the modern world. Consequently, researching on this topic of child abuse helps in the minimization of cots that would have been incurred fostering care, counselling in the family as well medical care. Rationally, most people still have the mentality and perception that child abuse is characterized by the old definitions of working in farms and factories as well as plantations. However, in the current world, child abuse has been revolutionized as well. Issues of sexual abuse and exploitation, such as trafficking, rape and commercial sex are emerging issues in child abuse. Adverse effects of child abuse are normally evident due to the fact that some aspects of child abuse such as emotional hardly heal (Jud, Andreas, Jörg M. Fegert, and David Finkelhor, 17). Due to the fact that issues of child abuse have been ignored in the society, analysis and research on this issue will help in the addressing and handling of this issue.

Background

Different definitions and forms of child abuse have been suggested by both scholars and researchers. Basically, child abuse or even child maltreatment involves the previously identified forms, that is sexual, emotional, neglect and physical. Most of the countries have been sensitizing on the issue of child abuse, with these four notable forms of child abuse having penalties and custody depending on the seriousness of the case. Different perceptions and ideas have been presented with regard to corporal punishment, as a form of child abuse and a technique of discipline. As a way of redefining corporal punishment, the effects need not to affect the child in any form, whether emotionally or physically (Mendelson, Tamar, and Elizabeth J. Letourneau, 846). On the contrary, corporal punishment has been identified as an offense which is worth detention.

Additionally, the issue of maltreatment impacts a child in varies ways, such as psychological, social as well as somatic consequences which tend to be evident in the adult stage of development. It is therefore important to develop interventions aimed at reducing and mitigating the instances of child maltreatment, which is essential for the policy makers with regard to the provision of information on the scope as well as characteristics. Surveys have been used by different researchers and organizations in counting the child maltreatment in the entire population. Prevalence and the increase in the cases of child maltreatment calls in for the need to carry out research for the identification of the effects of the child victimization. Health as well as social effects are evident as a result of victimization of children at a young age (Mendelson, Tamar, and Elizabeth J. Letourneau, 850). Nonetheless, questions have been raised about the reliability of the policy makers in the devising of effective policies for addressing the child maltreatment crisis, with most people believing that they need to have sufficient information provided by jurisdiction about this problem and the suggestions of what ought to be done.

Having knowledge and information about child maltreatment by policy makers will help in the making of plans which are concrete on the allocation of resources, training officials and reorganizing of the system so that it becomes easy to respond. To add on this, having knowledge and information by the officials helps in the formulation of policies that advocate for change inclusive of the formulation and implementation of strategies advocating for change. Sexual abuse especially in children is a serious issue and most of the research materials clearly indicate that there is deficiency in the approaches devised and recommended for treating children who happen to be victims, inclusive of the approaches devised (Tiyyagura, Gunjan, 450). As a result, there is need to sensitize the importance of treatment to child abuse as well as maltreatment, imposition of strategies for monitoring and communication for the improvement of the safety of the children at large.

Refutation of Opposing Arguments

Some of the common refutation about maltreatment in the United States is that most of the children who seek treatment are handled without the inclusion of pediatric services which have specialization. Failure to identify the barriers and facilitators of detection plays an important role in the inability to address maltreatment adequately and sufficiently. More notably, the inability of the recognize the neglect and the abuse of a child results in to challenges in addressing the issues as well as reaching family members for help (Van der Kolk, Bessel, 375). Some of the reasons as to maltreatment of children has not been fully effective include: follow-up activities are not usually done, mentality of the people about some issues such as testing in the law court and the lack of clarity of the importance of consultation and treatment.

To add on this, some families tend to be unaware of the effects of maltreatment to their children. Which means that there is reluctance in the accessibility of the services of treatment and the recovery of the children. Despite the sensitizing of the traumatic effects of effects of maltreatment, most of the people are not aware of the importance and the effectiveness of treatment in helping children recover. Basically, this means that in most cases, children are left to recover on their own, receiving little or no support from the family and friends. This maltreatment cases become worse if it is imposed by the caregivers or even the parents.

To conclude, the issue of child maltreatment is a crisis that needs to be addressed with immediate effect. Due to the fact that children may not be in a position to defend themselves, it is therefore the role and responsibility of the parents and the caregivers to protect them. As well, civic education about the issues of child abuse can help in defining and sensitizing the issue to the parents inclusive of the caregivers. It is also a corporate responsibility which needs efforts from different stakeholders such as administrators, policy makers as well as researchers in addressing this crisis. Implementation of parent-focused approach will help in sensitizing the parents and caregivers on the importance of after treatment and the follow up activities, which will ensure that children will not have psychological issues related to maltreatment trauma.

Works Cited

Jud, Andreas, Jörg M. Fegert, and David Finkelhor. "On the incidence and prevalence of child maltreatment: a research agenda." Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health10.1 (2016): 17.

Mendelson, Tamar, and Elizabeth J. Letourneau. "Parent-focused prevention of child sexual abuse." Prevention Science 16.6 (2015): 844-852.

Tiyyagura, Gunjan, et al. "Barriers and facilitators to detecting child abuse and neglect in general emergency departments." Annals of emergency medicine 66.5 (2015): 447-454.

Van der Kolk, Bessel A. "This issue: child abuse & victimization." Psychiatric Annals 35.5 (2017): 374-378.