|
What is Child Abuse and Neglect
There are many formal and acceptable definitions of child abuse;
the following is offered as a guide.
'Child abuse and neglect consists of an act of commission or omission that
endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health and development.'
1.
PHYSICAL ABUSE
'Any non-accidental injury to a child.'
Child Physical Indicators
-
Unexplained welts and bruises
-
Unexplained burns
-
Unexplained fractures
-
Unexplained lacerations or abrasions
-
Head injuries
-
Human bite marks
-
Premature loss of teeth
Child Behavioural Indicators
-
Verbally reports abuse
-
Wary of adult contacts
-
Consistent anger, aggression, hyperactivity
-
Behavioural extremes
-
Role reversal
-
Developmental lags
-
Appears frightened of carer
-
Apprehensive when other children cry
-
Wears clothes to cover injuries
-
Seeks affection from any adult with no discrimination
-
Non-expression of his/her needs
-
Non-communicative
Carer Behavioural Indicators
-
Seems unconcerned about child
-
Seems anxious and overwhelmed by their child’s needs
-
Takes an unusual amount of time to obtain medical care for the child
-
Offers an inadequate or inappropriate explanation for the child’s injury
-
Takes child to a different doctor or hospital for each injury
-
Substance abuser
-
Disciplines the child too harshly
-
Describes child in a consistently negative manner
-
Has poor impulse control
2.
SEXUAL ABUSE
'Utilization of a child for sexual gratification by an adult or older child
in a position of power, or permitting another person to do so.'
Child Physical Indicators
- Difficulty in walking or sitting
- Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
- Pain or itching in genital area
- Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia, vaginal or anal areas
- Venereal disease (especially in pre-teens)
- Pregnancy
- Foreign matter in bladder, rectum or urethra
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
Child Behavioural Indicators
- Aggressive, overt sexual behaviour
- Drawing pictures of people with genitals
- Cruelty to animals without physiological basis
- Pre-mature knowledge of explicit sexual acts
- Sleep disorders
- Taking frequent baths
- Starting fires
- Poor peer relationships
- Wary of physical contact, especially with an adult
- Onset of bedwetting, nightmares or thumb sucking
- Reports sexual abuse
- Self inflicted injuries
Carer Behavioural Indicators
- Very protective or jealous of child
- Extremely protective of family privacy
- Does not allow child to be involved in extra-curricular activities
- Encourages child to engage in prostitution
- Substance abuser
- Is geographically isolated and/or lacking in social and emotional contacts outside the family
- Has low self-esteem
3. EMOTIONAL ABUSE
'Chronic failure by the carer to provide support and affection
necessary to develop a sound and healthy personality.'
Child Physical Indicators
- Speech disorders
- Lags in physical development
- Failure to thrive
- Attempted suicide
- Child Behavioural Indicators
- Habit disorders (sucking, biting, rocking etc)
- Low self-esteem
- Difficulty forming positive relationships
- Elimination problems
-
Inability to trust
-
Neurotic Traits (sleep disorders, inhibition of play etc)
-
Behavioural extremes (compliant, passive, shy, aggressive, demanding)
- Overly adaptive behaviour (inappropriately infantile)
- Apathetic
- Withdrawal
- Reports emotional maltreatment
Carer Behavioural Indicators
- Treat children in family unequally
- Does not appear to care much about the child’s problems
- Blames or belittles
the child
- Is cold and rejecting
- Withholds love
- Find nothing good or attractive in the child
- Demonstrates inconsistent behaviour in the child
4. NEGLECT
'Chronic failure to provide for a child’s physical and emotional
needs,
such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education or supervision.'
Child Physical Indicators
- Consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress, chronically unclean
- Consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities for long periods
- Unattended physical problems or medial or dental needs
- Often tired or listless
- Abandonment
- Underweight
- Dirty
- Developmental lags
- Bald spots on
an infant’s head
Child Behavioural Indicators
- Begging or stealing food
- Extended stays in school (early arrival or late departure)
- Attendance at school infrequent
- Substance abuser
- States
there is no parent or carer
Carer Behavioural Indicators
- Has disorganised chaotic, upsetting home life
- Is apathetic, feels nothing will change
- Is isolated from friends, relatives, neighbours
- Cannot be found
- Expects too much of a child
- Substance abuser
- Exposes child to unsafe living conditions
|
