Child Abuse and Neglect
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MATCcurso167ChildAbuseppt.pptxChild Abuse
By Angel Heard
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What is child abuse?
Child abuse is the blanket term for four types of child mistreatment
Types of child abuse
Physical
Emotional
Sexual
Neglect
Verbal
Other
A little bit about child abuse
The rate of child abuse is fairly high.
The most common form is neglect.
The major risk factors for child abuse include:
Alcoholism
Domestic violence
Drug abuse
Being a single parent
Lack of education
Poverty
However, it is important to note that cases of child abuse are found in every racial or ethnic background and social class. It is impossible to tell abusers from non-abusers by looking at their appearance or background.
Physical abuse
Physical child abuse or non-accidental child trauma refers to fractures and other signs of injury that occur when a child is hurt in anger.
The physical signs of child abuse used to be called battered child syndrome. This syndrome referred to many fractures that occurred at different times in children too young to have received them from an accident. The definition of child abuse has since been expanded.
Physical abuse tends to occur at moments of great stress. Many people who commit physical abuse were abused themselves as children. As a result, they often do not realize that abuse is not appropriate discipline.
Often people who commit physical abuse also have poor impulse control. This prevents them from thinking about what happens as a result of their actions.
Symptoms of physical abuse
Black eyes
Broken bones that are unusual and unexplained
Bruise marks shaped like hands, fingers, or objects (such as a belt)
Bruises in areas where normal childhood activities would not usually result in bruising
Burn (scalding) marks, usually seen on the child's hands, arms, or buttocks
Choke marks around the neck
Cigarette burns on exposed areas or on the genitals
Circular marks around the wrists or ankles (signs of twisting or tying up)
Human bite marks
Lash marks
Unexplained unconsciousness in an infant
Emotional Abuse
systematic attacks on a child's emotional well-being and sense of self-worth.
Emotional child abuse is a pattern of behavior that attacks a child's emotional development and sense of well-being. This includes excessive, aggressive or unreasonable demands that place expectations on a child beyond his or her capacity.
There are six known types of emotional abuse
Rejecting
Ignoring
Terrorizing
Isolating
Corrupting
Exploiting
The effects of emotional abuse are often silent.
drastic effects of emotional abuse such as babies who grow into anxious and insecure children who are slow to develop and who may fail to develop a strong self esteem.
Symptoms of emotional abuse
Boys
» aggression » temper tantrums » fights with peers and siblings » bullying tactics » frustrates easily » disobedience » lying and cheating » destructive behaviors » impulsive behaviors » argumentative » loud » tease excessively » worry excessively » withdrawn
Girls
» withdrawn » passive » approval-seeking » compliant » frustrates easily » infinite patience » clinging to adults » overly dependent » stubborn » tease excessively » worry excessively » somatic complaints
Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse can take place within the family, by a parent, step-parent, sibling or other relative; or outside the home, for example, by a friend, neighbor, child care person, teacher, or stranger. When sexual abuse has occurred, a child can develop a variety of distressing feelings, thoughts and behaviors.
A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and can become suicidal.
Some children who have been sexually abused have difficulty relating to others except on sexual terms. Some sexually abused children become child abusers or prostitutes, or have other serious problems when they reach adulthood.
Often there are no obvious external signs of child sexual abuse. Some signs can only be detected on physical exam by a physician.
Child sexual abusers can make the child extremely fearful of telling, and only when a special effort has helped the child to feel safe, can the child talk freely. If a child says that he or she has been molested, parents should try to remain calm and reassure the child that what happened was not their fault. Parents can prevent or lessen the chance of sexual abuse by
Symptoms of sexual abuse
Unusual interest in or avoidance of all things of a sexual nature
Sleep problems or nightmares
Depression or withdrawal from friends or family
Seductiveness
Statements that their bodies are dirty or damaged, or fear that there is something wrong with them in the genital area
Refusal to go to school
Delinquency/
Secretiveness
Aspects of sexual molestation in drawings, games, fantasies
Unusual aggressiveness, or
Suicidal behavior
Neglect
type of maltreatment that refers to the failure by the caregiver to provide needed, age-appropriate care although financially able to do so or offered financial or other means to do so
Types of Neglect include physical, educational, emotional and medical.
Physical neglect accounts for the majority of cases of maltreatment. Physical neglect generally involves the parent or caregiver not providing the child with basic necessities.
Educational neglect involves the failure of a parent or caregiver to enroll a child of mandatory school age in school or provide appropriate home schooling or needed special educational training, thus allowing the child or youth to engage in chronic truancy.
Emotional/Psychological neglect includes actions such as engaging in chronic or extreme spousal abuse in the child’s presence, allowing a child to use drugs or alcohol, refusing or failing to provide needed psychological care, constantly belittling the child and withholding affection.
Medical neglect is the failure to provide appropriate health care for a child thus placing the child at risk of being seriously disabled or disfigured or dying.
How to get help
Call 911
If you suspect a child is being abused, report it immediately. Most states have a child abuse hotline. You may also use the Child help National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD).
Counseling, including play therapy, is also necessary for abused children over age 2. The child will need help dealing with the fear and pain of abuse caused by adults, who should be trusted figures. Failing to get this help can lead to significant psychological problems, such as post traumatic stress disorder.
Support groups are available for survivors of abuse and for abusive parents who want to get help.
