
Child abuse is everyone's problem
Did you know?
Child abuse crosses all socio-economis boundaries and contributes to other problems including juvenile delinquency and teenage pregnancy.
approximately 76% percent of confirmed child abusers are biological parents
46% of confirmed abuse victims are children under 6.
85% of the abuse occurs in a child's home.
Of the children who have died as a result of child abuse 85% were under age 5 and 46% were under age 1.
Abuse and neglect in the home is a leading cause of death for young children outstripping deaths caused by car accidents,fires,drowning and other injuries.
1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys experience some kind of abuse before age 18
Abuse victims are 6 times more likely to abuse.
Definitions of abuse
Physical Abuse: Nonaccidental injury that may include severe beatings,
burns, fractures, bruises, welts, or other physical problems.
Physical Neglect: A parent or caretaker allows the child to experience
avoidable suffering or fails to provide basic essentials for physical,
social, and emotional development.
Sexual Abuse: Exploitation of a child for the sexual gratification of an
adult or older child. Sexual abuse includes fondling, sodomy, child
prostitution, incest, and encouraging or forcing a child to participate in
pornographic activities.
Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse exists when the parent creates a negative emotional
atmosphere for the child. Examples are when the parent makes continued
unfavorable comparisons to a sibling, when the parent makes the child feel bad
because he/she is not perfect, or when the parent uses shameful forms of
punishment.
Signs of abuse
PHYSICAL ABUSE
PHYSICAL INDICATORS
Unexplained bruises and welts:
- on face, lips, mouth
- on torso, back, buttocks, thighs
- in various stages of healing
- clustered, forming regular patterns
- reflecting shape of article used to inflict
(e.g., electrical cord, belt)
- on several different surface areas
- regularly appear after absence, weekend, or vacation
Unexplained burns:
- cigar, cigarette burns, especially on soles, palms, backs, or buttocks
- immersion burns (sock-like, glove-like, doughnut-shaped on buttocks or genitals)
- infected burns, indicating delay in seeking treatment
Unexplained fractures/dislocations:
- to skull, nose, facial structure
- in various stages of healing
- multiple or spinal fractures
Bald patches on the scalp
BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS
- feels deserving of punishment
- wary of adult contact
- apprehensive when others cry
- behavioral extremes:
- aggressiveness, or
- withdrawal
- frightened of parents
- afraid to go home
- reports injury by parents
- vacant or frozen stare
- lies very still while surveying surroundings
- responds to questions in monosyllables
- inappropriate or precocious maturity
- manipulative behavior to get attention, capable of only superficial relationships
- indiscriminately seeks affection
- poor self-concept
PHYSICAL NEGLECT
PHYSICAL INDICATORS
- underweight, poor growth patterns, failure to thrive
- consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress
- consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities or for long periods of time
- wasting of subcutaneous tissue
- unattended physical problems or medical needs
- abandonment
- bald patches on the scalp
BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS
- begging, stealing food
- extended stays at school (early arrival and late departure)
- rare attendance at school
- constant fatigue, listlessness or falling asleep in class
- inappropriate seeking of affection
- assuming adult responsibilities and concerns
- alcohol or drug abuse
- delinquency
- reports that there is no caretaker
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