Child abuse in today has become a frequent and common issue one gets to hear about. It is a horrific experience and can have a long-lasting impact on a child. There a many reported cases of child physical, sexual abuse over the years. Nonetheless, there are also unreported cases of child abuse happening worldwide. So let us first understand what exactly Child abuse is.

Child Abuse – what is it?

Any behaviour or act that harms a child( below the age of 18 years). A parent or a caregiver causes injury, death, emotional harm or risks of serious harm to a child. Failure to meet the requirements of a child leading to actual or potential harm to the child’s development. It can happen in schools, home, organizations or communities that the child interacts with. Child abuse can take place over a course of time or can also be a one-time action. Understanding the different types and signs can help make a difference in a child’s life.

Types and Signs:

Abuse of a child can take the following forms and an abused child is very likely to show symptoms, signs.  The types of child abuse are ;

PHYSICAL Abuse; any non- accidental physical injury caused to a child by the caregiver or a parent. Even if the caregiver did not mean to harm the child, when the child is injured it is considered an abuse. Includes striking, biting, burning, hair pulling, choking, throwing, whipping, and excessive punishment to the child.

A few signs of physical abuse seen in parents/ caregivers and children could be as follows;

• Parents cannot or won’t be able to explain the reason behind a child’s injury.
• They hold back or prevent medical care to the child
• Keep the child away from social gatherings
• The child may have injuries that are at different stages of healing and at different surfaces of the body
• The child is aggressive towards peers, pets and animals
• Child fears parents, other adults
• Violent themes in stories, dreams, conversations, fantasy
• Prefers to wear fully covered clothes
• Withdrawal, fear, depression, anxiety
• Emotional, behavioural issues, immaturity
• Self-destructive attitude

PSYCHOLOGICAL / EMOTIONAL Abuse; when a child’s mental and emotional development is harmed by a caregiver or parent. Often emotional abuse has a long-lasting impact on a child. A course can be observed where the child is denied love, affection, approval and security, mistreating the child by bullying, scolding, using abusive offensive words, criticising, shaming, threatening, insulting, ignoring and isolating. It can also include Rejecting or ignoring the child, corrupting the child by lying, encouraging disorderly conduct etc.

Signs of emotional abuse in parents/caregivers and child include;

• Parent often ignore, shouts at, blames the child
• Discrimination between siblings by parents
• Parents have poor anger management
• The Child has developmental delays, learning disabilities
• Bedwetting, pant wetting, loss of bladder control
• The Child develops speech disorder
• Weight fluctuation in child
• The child has fear, phobias, anxieties, sleep disorder
• The child develops anti-social behaviour
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviour is seen in a child

SEXUAL Abuse; an adult using a child for sexual pleasure or involving the child in sexual acts. One of the most common forms of child abuse. It does not only involve physical body contact but also includes sexual acts and malpractices( sexual acts between family members), exposing a child to a sexual act, making a child view or exhibit sexual organs, inappropriate sexual conversation, inappropriately touching a child, penetration, making child pornography and child prostitution.

Signs seen in parents/ caregivers and children could be;

• Unstable presence of adult
• The child may show difficulty in sitting, walking
• Sexually transmitted diseases or related symptoms may be present in the child.
• Withdrawn, depressed, anxious
• A child having an eating disorder, preoccupation with their body
• Poor self-image in the child
• Poor relationship with peer, adults
• Sleep disturbances, nightmares, fear
• The decline in school performance
• Running away from home, substance abuse, attempts to suicide, Truancy.
• Sexual behaviour or knowledge that is not age-appropriate.
• The child makes strong attempts to avoid meeting specific persons.

CHILD NEGLECT; when a child does not receive the necessary and appropriate care, affection, supervision and support needed from a caregiver or a parent. A child is neglected when there is the failure of the caregiver to provide the child’s basic needs to grow, such as shelter, food, clothing, hygiene, supervision, medical attention, education or safety.

Physical Neglect includes not providing for the child’s basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and proper supervision for the child. A few examples could be; failure to provide the child with healthy food and drinks, leaving a child in somebody else’s custody for days, failure to take care of child’s adequate hygiene, leaving the child with an inappropriate caregiver, exposure of a child to unsafe environments or situation.

Medical Neglect is when a caregiver or parent fails to provide the child with appropriate and sufficient treatment for injuries and illness. They also fail to provide basic preventive cure to ensure their child is safe. A few examples of such neglect could be; keeping a child from getting the needed treatments, medications, not taking the child to a medical professional when necessary for any serious illness or injury, failure to follow the medical recommendations for the child.

Educational Neglect is when the parents, caregivers do not provide the basic educational facilities needed for the development of a child. Failure to provide a child with experiences, knowledge for growth. Not sending a child to school or giving them an education. For example; letting a child miss school too often, keeping a child away from the necessary special education, not enrolling a child to any educational institutions.

Emotional Neglect, failure to provide the child with affection, care, attention and support to feel loved. A child showing psychological illness must be helped and treated. Examples of emotional neglect; keeping a child isolated from friends, family, cousins, ignoring a child’s need from affection, attention and emotional support, exposure of a child to substance, violent situations.

A child may face any type of abuse by a caregiver, parent or relative. Child abuse does not only mean the existence of visible physical marks but it can be of any form. Child abuse is never okay nor acceptable. It is illegal and must be reported. The effects of child abuse are long-standing and can hamper the child’s development in the long run.

Abuse and Child Mental Health

Scars of abuse might be physical and emotional, but emotional scarring has a long term impact on the child. Damaging the child’s sense of self, their future relationships, ability to function at home, work and school. Studies have proven that children who have experienced child abuse or neglect are more prone to develop serious mental illnesses later in life, such as schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, PTSD and Attention Deficit hyperactive disorder. The brutality of these problems depends on the severity, intensity and duration of abuse. A study published on child abuse and neglect indicated that abuse occurring in children of age 5 and older may have the greatest impact on their mental health. Since the child is in a stage of growth and development any adverse situations can cause an impact in their normal development. Child abuse and neglect can impact a child’s development of the brain and other cognitive abilities. An abused child may develop;

• Self-blame, low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness
• Anger towards self and abuser,
• Fear, anxiety, depression
• Failure to trust others,
• Failure to build relationships with other people,
• Confusion, rage,
• Poor academic performance,
• Behavioural and emotional problems,
• Denial,
• Isolation
• Nightmares, flashbacks.

Prevalence of high rate of suicidal tendencies, depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and aggressive behaviour is observed in adults who experienced abuse as a child. The following are the overall effect of abuse and neglect;

• The decline in cognitive skills and executive functions
• Poor emotional and mental health
• Social difficulties
• Difficulties with attachment
• Post-traumatic stress

However, of course, childhood abuse is not an assurance that an individual will have some continued psychological problems throughout life, but it can be an important indicator.

Conclusion

Child abuse can be prevented and individuals who have experienced can be helped. There are several NGO’s, organizations and communities working towards the cause. However nobody can alone help or work towards a cause and likewise, it is also the responsibility of people in a community to be vigilant. If any child is suspected of being abused or neglected it must be reported to the nearest support services. By getting hold of a problem sooner, both the child and the abuser can be helped. Both males and females could undergo any form of abuse and thus importance must be given equally. No matter when the abuse has occurred, it is always wise to seek assistance, the sooner the better. Child abuse is against the law.

Some common myths about child abuse and neglect:

• It is Abuse, if it’s only violent: child neglect, Emotional, sexual abuse can cause the same amount of damage or even more than physical abuse.
• Most child abusers are strangers: abusers can be close to family members, relative, and also strangers.
• Abuse does not happen in ‘’good’’ families: abuse takes place irrespective of the class, caste, racial, economic and cultural background. Some families may seem to have everything good and at its best from the outside but there may likely be a different story behind the closed doors.