Child Abuse

Child Abuse

                        “The physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened.”-   Child Welfare Act.

Types of Child Abuse

• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• emotional abuse
• neglect

Physical Abuse

Physical abuse is any non-accidental injury to a child under the age of 18 by a parent or caretaker.  These injuries may include beatings, shaking, burns, human bites, strangulation, or immersion in scalding water or others, with resulting bruises and welts, fractures, scars, burns, internal injuries or any other injuries.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse includes the failure of a caregiver to provide an appropriate and supportive environment, and includes acts that have an adverse effect on the emotional health and development of a child. Such acts include restricting a child’s movements, denigration, ridicule, threats and intimidation, discrimination, rejection and other nonphysical forms of hostile treatment.

Neglect            

Neglect refers to the failure of a parent to provide for the development of the child – where the parent is in a position to do so – in one or more of the following areas: health, education, emotional development, nutrition, shelter and safe living conditions.

Neglect is thus distinguished from circumstances of poverty in that neglect can occur only in cases where reasonable resources are available to the family or caregiver.

Child sexual abuse

Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child or  adolescent for the sexual gratification of another  person

Effects of Child Sexual Abuse

Factors that determine how a child is impacted by sexual abuse usually fall into three categories.

The child's previous experiences and history:

Critical pre-abuse factors that increase the risk that a child will develop serious problems include the child's prior psychological concerns, especially a history of anxiety problems. If the child has previously been sexually abused or experienced other trauma, the risk is higher.

Nature of the sexual abuse and the child's reactions:

Abusive characteristics make a big difference in the impact on a child, especially those involving force and violence. The most impactful factor is if the child believed they were in extreme danger and might be killed or hurt during the assault.

Responses by others upon disclosure of abuse:

The most important response is how caregivers react to the abuse and that the response is not negative. Reactions that increase the risk for negative outcomes include disbelief, blaming the child for the victimization, or blaming the child for causing trouble to the family or the offender.