CHILD ABUSE
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Abuse
By Vanessa Rasmussen, © 2006-2010, All rights reserved.
Child
abuse can be categorized into four types. Child abuse is often found in combination
of these types, i.e. a child who is sexually abused might be emotionally abused
as well, or a physically abused child might be neglected. Following are the
four types of child abuse:
1. Physical Abuse: A child is being
physically abused if he/she has been hit with hands, belts, bat, and so on,
or pinched so hard that the mark won't go away. The child is physically abused
if he/she is kicked, choked, punched, pushed against the walls or thrown on
the floor, burned with a cigarette, cigarette lighter, iron, or bitten so
hard that it creates a wound on the skin.
2. Sexual Abuse: A child is being sexually
abused if he/she is being touched inappropriately which involves touching
private parts in a way that it hurts or makes the child uncomfortable. The
child is also being sexually abused if someone makes the child touch his/her
private parts, taking photographs or video of the child in nude and/or touching
his/her private parts or of someone else.
3. Emotional Abuse: A child is being
emotionally abused if, someone calls the child mean names or makes incessant
fun of the child, makes statements such as the child is worthless, stupid
or a 'mistake', constantly tells the child that they wish the child was never
born.
4. Neglect: A child is suffering from
neglect if he/she is hungry all the time and is deprived of food, and if the
child is sick by not taking the child to the doctor or not giving medications.
A child is neglected if he/she is not given enough appropriate clothes, if
he/she is left alone in the house, or locked up in a room for long period
of time.
More than 2.5 million cases of child abuse
and neglect are reported each year. Of these, 35 percent involve physical
abuse, 15 percent involve sexual abuse and 50 percent involve neglect.
Children who have been mistreated are often
afraid to tell anyone because they fear that either they themselves will be
blamed or that no one will believe them. A child who has been abused needs
special support and treatment as early as possible. The longer he continues
to be abused or is left to deal with the situation on his own, the less likely
he is to make a full recovery.
If you notice any unusual changes in the body,
behavior or attitude of your child, you should be concerned. If you suspect
your child has been abused, get help immediately through your pediatrician
or a local child protective agency. Do not deny the problem as it will only
make the matters worse.
Child abuse can be prevented if the parents
are well-informed and responsible. Prevention efforts help parents develop
their parenting skills, understand the benefits of nonviolent discipline techniques,
and understand and meet their child's emotional, physical, and developmental
needs. Listen to your child and read the body language. Your child might withdraw
and not want to talk about what has happened to him/her.
However, it is your duty to report the incident
and seek therapy so that it does not leave long term effect on your child's
mind.
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