Dealing with Child Abuse

This year, somewhere in Nigeria, a little boy made the news on national TV. I wish I could tell you it was for some academic exploit or award or something positive, but sadly, it was for child abuse. This little boy, barely 10 years old was said to have been locked up by his step mother, in a cage along with some animals and starved of food for 2 solid years. It was said that he ate the food of the animals he was locked up with for 2 years, until a neighbour intervened by reporting the case to the local police. The case was taken up by the police and the step mother, and father of the boy, were arrested and charged to court for child abuse. I watched from home with a lot of pity for the poor child, he looked so frail I was even surprised that he survived such a horrible ordeal at such a tender age. Sadly though, there are many children out there going through similar situations of abuse.

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?

According to the World Health Organisation, Child abuse or child maltreatment is the abuse and neglect that occurs to children under 18 years of age. It includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other exploitation, which results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.

This means that child abuse is not just physical violence directed at a child. It is any form of maltreatment by an adult, which is violent or threatening for the child. This includes neglect.

TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE

There are five general types of child abuse:

1. Physical abuse: Which involves all forms of physical violence.
2. Emotional or psychological abuse: Where an adult frequently scolds a child, or acts in a dismissive or harsh manner towards the child or intentionally scares the child.
3. Physical neglect: Where the child does not receive the care and nurturing that he or she needs.
4. Emotional or psychological neglect: This involves a continuous lack of positive attention for the child. Ignoring the child’s need for love, warmth and security. This category also covers cases in which children are witnesses to violence between their parents or caregivers.
5. Sexual abuse: Involves sexual contact which an adult forces upon a child.

STATISTICS THAT WOULD SHOCK YOU

The World Health Organization reports that: 

Every year up to 1 billion children experience physical, sexual or psychological violence.

1 in 5 women and 1 in 13 men report having been sexually abused as a child.

120 million girls under 20 years of age have been victims of sexual abuse in some form.

Every year, about 40,150 children die, due to child abuse. The number may be even more.

WHAT MAKES A CHILD LIKELY TO BE ABUSED?

Several factors make a child likely to be a victim of child abuse. Not  all the factors are present in all social and cultural contexts. The list here provides a brief summary of some of the causes of child abuse:

1. Factors related to the Child:

• Children are the victims and are never to blame for maltreatment. Sometimes, specific characteristics of a child may predispose that child to abuse, e.g:
• Being under four years old or being an adolescent.
• Being unwanted, or failing to fulfil the expectations of parents
• Having special needs, crying persistently or having abnormal physical features.
• Having an intellectual disability or a neurological disorder.
  
  2. Factors related to the parent or caregiver:

• Difficulty bonding with a newborn.
• Having been maltreated themselves, as a child.
• Lacking awareness of child development or having unrealistic expectations.
• Misusing alcohol or drugs, including during pregnancy.
• Having low self-esteem
• Suffering from poor impulse control
• Having a mental or neurological disorder
• Being involved in criminal activity
• Experiencing financial difficulties.

3. Relationship factors:

Relationship factors that may increase the risk of child maltreatment include:

• Family breakdown or violence between other family members.
• Being isolated in the community or lacking a support network.
• A breakdown of support in child rearing from the extended family.

4. Community and societal factors:

Characteristics of communities and societies that may increase the risk of child maltreatment include:

• Gender and social inequality;
• Lack of adequate housing or services to support families and institutions;
• High levels of unemployment or poverty;
• The easy availability of alcohol and drugs;
• Inadequate policies and programmes to prevent child maltreatment, child pornography, child prostitution and child labour;
• Social and cultural norms that promote or glorify violence towards others, support the use of corporal punishment, demand rigid gender roles, or diminish the status of the child in parent–child relationships;
• Social, economic, health and education policies that lead to poor living standards, or to socioeconomic inequality or instability factors.

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE?

Child abuse causes suffering to children and families and can have long-term effects. As adults, maltreated children are at increased risk for:

1. Behavioural problems:

• Violent behavior
• Depression
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High-risk sexual behaviours
• Unintended pregnancy
• Alcohol and drug misuse.

2. Health problems: Because of these behavioral problems, child abuse can contribute to health problems like:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Suicide
• Sexually transmitted infections. 

3. It also contributes to inequalities in education, as children who experienced any form of violence in childhood have a 13% higher likelihood of not graduating from school.

4. It also has an economic impact, due to costs of hospitalization, mental health treatment, child welfare, and long-term health costs.

WHAT TO DO:

There are simple actions you can take to prevent child abuse or intervene:

1. Be a nurturing parent. Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams.
2. Help a friend, neighbor or relative. Being a parent isn’t easy. Offer a helping hand take care of the children, so the parent(s) can rest or spend time together.
3. Help yourself. When the big and little problems of your everyday life pile up and make you feel overwhelmed and out of control – take time out. Don’t take it out on your kid.
4. If your baby cries…It can be frustrating to hear your baby cry, learn what to do if your baby won’t stop crying. Never shake a baby. Shaking a child may result in severe injury or death.
5. Promote programs in school. Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.
6. Monitor your child’s television, video, and internet viewing/usage. Excessively watching violent films, TV programs, and videos can harm young children.
7. Report suspected abuse or neglect cases to any child welfare centre close to you.
8. If you have reason to believe a child has been or may be harmed, call on your local child welfare centres or your local police department. 

By preventing children from being abused, you are securing the welfare and future of your children, and your own future.