Child Abuse

Any type of Child Abuse, carried out for

a long period of time, may cause long-term mental damage. In this paper I intend

to explain child abuse in intimate detail. I hope to inform you of the exact

definition of abuse and its various types. I hope to enlighten you on pertinent

facts and information on the causes and effects of this cruel act. I will also

show you statistical information showing that continued abuse against a child

may cause long-term mental damage. I will also show improvements being made over

the years to improve and prevent child abuse. Child Abuse is defined as

intentional use of physical force or intentional omission of care by a parent or

caregiver that causes a child to be hurt, maimed, or killed. Child abuse covers

a wide range of harmful actions, which generally vary with the age of the child.

The term child abuse covers a wide range of behavior, from actual physical

assault to simple neglect of a child's basic needs. Child abuse is also

sometimes called child maltreatment. Infants and preschool children are most

likely to suffer deliberately inflicted fractures, burns, and bruises. This is

known as the battered-child syndrome. Although the extent of child abuse is

difficult to measure, it is recognized a s a major social problem, especially in

industrialized nations. It occurs in all income, racial, religious, and ethnic

groups and in urban and rural communities. It is, however, more common in some

groups, especially those below the poverty line. There are several different

types of child abuse, and some children experience more than one form: Physical

abuse includes deliberate acts of violence that injure or even kill a child.

Unexplained bruises, broken bones, or burn marks on a child may be signs of

physical abuse. Other signs include: Physical Indicators *Unexplained bruises or

welts *Unexplained burns *Unexplained fractures and sprains *Unexplained head

injuries *Unexplained lacerations or abrasions *Poisoning, inappropriate drugs,

food or drink *Confinement Behavioral Indicators *School absence correlates with

appearance of injury *Behavioral extremes, i.e. overly compliant, passive or

undemanding, aggressive, withdrawn *Easily frightened, fearful *Wary of physical

contact or touch *Poor social relations *Afraid to go home *Destructive to self

and/or others *Chronic runaway *Complains of soreness or moves uncomfortably

*Wears clothing inappropriate to weather to cover body Sexual abuse occurs when

adults use children for sexual gratification or expose them to sexual

activities. Sexual abuse may begin with kissing or fondling and progress to more

intrusive sexual acts, such as oral sex and vaginal or anal penetration. Common

signs of sexual abuse are: Physical Indicators *Difficulty walking or sitting

*Torn clothing, *Stained or bloody underwear *Pain or itching in genital area

*Venereal disease, especially in preteens *Pregnancy Behavioral Indicators

*Sudden reluctance to go someplace or be with someone *Inappropriate displays of

affection *Sexual acting out *Sudden use of sexual terms or new names for body

parts *Uncomfortableness or rejection of typical family affection *Sleep

problems, including: insomnia, nightmares, refusal to sleep alone or suddenly

insisting on a night light *Regressive behaviors, including: thumb-sucking,

bed-wetting, infantile behaviors or other signs of dependency *Extreme

clinginess or other signs of fearfulness *A sudden change in personality

*Problems in school *Unwilling to participate in or change clothing for gym

class at school *Runs away from home *Bizarre or unusual sophistication

pertaining to sexual behavior or knowledge, including sexual acting out *Reports

sexual assault by parent or guardian Not all child abuse is physical. Emotional

abuse is one of the most common and harmful forms of child abuse. Making fun of

a child, name-calling, always finding fault, and showing no respect can damage a

child's self-esteem. The Child *May find it hard to make friends *May avoid

doing things with other children and being places where he's expected to love

*May tend to be pushy and hostile *Might have a hard time learning, be overly

active, or have problems such as bed-wetting or soiling *Might act falsely grown

up, having to care for adults or others far beyond what should be expected for

the child's age *May become gloomy and depressed, unable to enjoy himself. He

might do things that work against himself *Could become self-destructive,

injuring herself, or even attempting suicide Other types of emotional abuse are

confinement, such as shutting a child in a dark closet, and social isolation,

such