WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?

Child Abuse and Neglect - the physical, mental injury, sexual abuse, exploitation, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child by a person who is responsible for the child's health, or welfare is harmed or threatened...(1)

Before using any list of indicators to find out whether abuse is occurring, you must use caution. In almost every situation where identification is necessary, you probably can recognize at least 3-4 indicators. For example a lack of self-esteem by itself is not to be defined as an indicator of abuse (as defined above). However, should you identify a lack of self esteem, obsession with masturbation, unexplained bruises or injuries in genital areas, then there would be cause for concern and steps of intervention must be taken. Stay calm. Avoid paranoia. Always act to protect the child.

NEGLECT - failure, refusal or inability by a parent, guardian or caregiver to provide necessary food, clothing, shelter, education, supervision or health care to seriously endanger the health of the child. Neglect occurs for reasons other than poverty.(2)

• INDICATORS: poor hygiene, lacks weather appropriate clothing, unattended medical or dental needs.
• CHILD'S BEHAVIOR: constant fatigue or listlessness, abandonment, developmental lags, begs or steals food.(3)

PHYSICAL ABUSE - any intentional physical injury or pattern of injuries inflicted or caused by a parent, parent guardian, and/or caregiver.(4)

• INDICATORS: unexplained bruises, welts, bums, skeletal injuries, head injuries, lacerations or abrasions; school absences may correlate with appearance of injury.
• CHILD'S BEHAVIOR: easily frightened, fearful, wary of physical contact, afraid to go home, destructive to self or others.(5)

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE - a general term that refers to a child being forced or tricked into sexual activity by an adult or older child. This includes everything from obscene phone calls to fondling, vaginal, oral or anal penetration.(6)

• INDICATORS: Explicit or bizarre sexual knowledge, precocious sexually related speech or experimentation, smearing of feces or urine, gagging or unexplained vomiting, loss of appetite, unexplained bruises or injuries in the genital areas, blood spotting or unexplained substances in underwear, ulcers, colitis, anorexia, or other stress related disorders, alcohol or drug abuse, frequent nightmares, excessive passivity, vaginal or urinary tract infections, infections of the mouth, gums or throat -venereal disease, unexplained gifts, extra money or the presence of pornography in the child's possession.
• CHILD'S BEHAVIOR: regressive behavior, obsession with masturbation, withdrawal from normal human contact, suicidal depression, self-destructive, excessive fear of selected individuals or locations.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE - refers to rejection, intimidation, or humiliation of a child that undermines his/her sense of self esteem and well being. It may include withholding love and affection. It is important to understand that emotional abuse is characterized by a pattern of negative behavior aimed at the child and not simply by isolated incidents or the normal ups & downs of parental emotions.(7)

• INDICATORS: physical problems exacerbated by emotional distress, regressive behavior, failure to thrive in infancy and early childhood, low self-esteem.
• CHILD'S BEHAVIOR: overly passive, complaint aggressive or demanding, developmental lags, sleeping disorders.(8)

Footnotes
1 Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-294).
2 Protective Behaviors Handbook, Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abusc. WI
3 Let's Prevent Abuse, PACER Center, MN
4 Let's Prcveat Abuse. PACER Center, MN
5 Let's Preveat Abuse. PACER Center. MN
6 Protective Behaviors Handbook, Center Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, WI
7 Protective Behaviors Handbook, The Center Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, WI
8 Let's Prevent Abuse, PACER Center. MN

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