WHO, (2006) distinguishes four types of child abuse which are:
·
Physical abuse
Physical abuse
·
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
·
Emotional and psychological abuse, and
Emotional and psychological abuse, and
·
Neglect.
Neglect.
Physical abuse
Among professionals and the general public, people often do not agree on
what behaviours constitute physical abuse of a child. Physical abuse often does not occur in isolation, but as
part of a constellation of behaviours including authoritarian control,
anxiety-provoking behaviour, and a lack of parental warmth (Noh, 2014).
what behaviours constitute physical abuse of a child. Physical abuse often does not occur in isolation, but as
part of a constellation of behaviours including authoritarian control,
anxiety-provoking behaviour, and a lack of parental warmth (Noh, 2014).
WHO, (2006) defined physical abuse as intentional use of physical force
against the child that results in – or has a high likelihood of resulting
in harm for the child’s health, survival, development or dignity. This
includes hitting, beating, kicking, shaking, biting, strangling, scalding,
burning, poisoning and suffocating. Much physical violence against children in
the home is inflicted with the object of punishing. Overlapping definitions of
physical abuse and physical
punishment of children highlight a subtle or non-existent
distinction between abuse and punishment. For instance, Pinheiro,
(2015) in a report in the United Nations Secretary-General’s Study on Violence
Against Children that corporal punishment involves hitting (‘smacking’,
‘slapping’, ‘spanking’) children, with the hand or with an implement – whip,
stick, belt, shoe, wooden spoon, etc. But it can also involve, for example,
kicking, shaking or throwing children, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling
hair or boxing ears, forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions,
burning, scalding or forced ingestion (for example, washing children’s mouths
out with soap or forcing them to swallow hot spices).
against the child that results in – or has a high likelihood of resulting
in harm for the child’s health, survival, development or dignity. This
includes hitting, beating, kicking, shaking, biting, strangling, scalding,
burning, poisoning and suffocating. Much physical violence against children in
the home is inflicted with the object of punishing. Overlapping definitions of
physical abuse and physical
punishment of children highlight a subtle or non-existent
distinction between abuse and punishment. For instance, Pinheiro,
(2015) in a report in the United Nations Secretary-General’s Study on Violence
Against Children that corporal punishment involves hitting (‘smacking’,
‘slapping’, ‘spanking’) children, with the hand or with an implement – whip,
stick, belt, shoe, wooden spoon, etc. But it can also involve, for example,
kicking, shaking or throwing children, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling
hair or boxing ears, forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions,
burning, scalding or forced ingestion (for example, washing children’s mouths
out with soap or forcing them to swallow hot spices).
Most
nations with child-abuse laws deem the deliberate infliction of serious
injuries, or actions that place the child at obvious risk of serious injury or
death, to be illegal. Bruises, scratches, burns, broken bones, lacerations, as
well as repeated “mishaps,” and rough treatment that could cause
physical injury, can be physical abuse (Theoklitou
et al., 2012).
nations with child-abuse laws deem the deliberate infliction of serious
injuries, or actions that place the child at obvious risk of serious injury or
death, to be illegal. Bruises, scratches, burns, broken bones, lacerations, as
well as repeated “mishaps,” and rough treatment that could cause
physical injury, can be physical abuse (Theoklitou
et al., 2012).
Sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a form of child abuse in which an adult or
older adolescent abuses a child for sexual stimulation. Sexual abuse refers to
the participation of a child in a sexual act aimed toward the physical
gratification or the financial profit of the person committing the act (Theoklitou et
al., 2012).
Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in
sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure of the genitals
to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual
contact with a child, physical contact with the child’s
genitals, viewing of the child’s genitalia without physical contact, or using a
child to produce child pornography. Selling
the sexual services of children may be viewed and treated as child
abuse with services offered to the child rather than simple incarceration
(Brown, 2011).
older adolescent abuses a child for sexual stimulation. Sexual abuse refers to
the participation of a child in a sexual act aimed toward the physical
gratification or the financial profit of the person committing the act (Theoklitou et
al., 2012).
Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in
sexual activities (regardless of the outcome), indecent exposure of the genitals
to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual
contact with a child, physical contact with the child’s
genitals, viewing of the child’s genitalia without physical contact, or using a
child to produce child pornography. Selling
the sexual services of children may be viewed and treated as child
abuse with services offered to the child rather than simple incarceration
(Brown, 2011).
Emotional
and psychological abuse
and psychological abuse
There are multiple definitions of child emotional and psychological
abuse this include verbal or symbolic acts by a child’s parent or caregiver
that result, or have reasonable potential to result, in significant emotional
and psychological harm to the child. This include spurning, terrorizing,
isolating, exploiting, corrupting, denying emotional responsiveness, or neglect
or a repeated pattern of caregiver behaviour or extreme incident(s) that convey
to children that they are worthless, flawed, unloved, unwanted, endangered, or
only of value in meeting another’s needs (John, 2010).
abuse this include verbal or symbolic acts by a child’s parent or caregiver
that result, or have reasonable potential to result, in significant emotional
and psychological harm to the child. This include spurning, terrorizing,
isolating, exploiting, corrupting, denying emotional responsiveness, or neglect
or a repeated pattern of caregiver behaviour or extreme incident(s) that convey
to children that they are worthless, flawed, unloved, unwanted, endangered, or
only of value in meeting another’s needs (John, 2010).
Theoklitou et al., (2012)
defined emotional and psychological abuse as the
production of psychological and social defects in the growth of a child as a
result of behaviour such as loud yelling, coarse and rude attitude,
inattention, harsh criticism, and denigration of the child’s personality. Other
examples include name-calling, ridicule, degradation, destruction of personal
belongings, torture or
killing of a pet, excessive criticism,
inappropriate or excessive demands, withholding communication, and routine labelling
or humiliation (Golden, 2009).
defined emotional and psychological abuse as the
production of psychological and social defects in the growth of a child as a
result of behaviour such as loud yelling, coarse and rude attitude,
inattention, harsh criticism, and denigration of the child’s personality. Other
examples include name-calling, ridicule, degradation, destruction of personal
belongings, torture or
killing of a pet, excessive criticism,
inappropriate or excessive demands, withholding communication, and routine labelling
or humiliation (Golden, 2009).
Neglect
Child neglect is the failure of a parent or other person with
responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical
care, or supervision to the degree that the child’s health, safety, and
well-being are threatened with harm. Neglect is also a lack of attention from
the people surrounding a child, and the non-provision of the relevant and
adequate necessities for the child’s survival, which would be a lacking in
attention, love, and nurture (Theoklitou
et al., 2012). Some of the observable signs in a neglected
child include: the child is frequently absent from school, begs or steals food
or money, lacks needed medical and dental care, is consistently dirty, or lacks
sufficient clothing for the weather (Thornberry, 2013).
responsibility for the child to provide needed food, clothing, shelter, medical
care, or supervision to the degree that the child’s health, safety, and
well-being are threatened with harm. Neglect is also a lack of attention from
the people surrounding a child, and the non-provision of the relevant and
adequate necessities for the child’s survival, which would be a lacking in
attention, love, and nurture (Theoklitou
et al., 2012). Some of the observable signs in a neglected
child include: the child is frequently absent from school, begs or steals food
or money, lacks needed medical and dental care, is consistently dirty, or lacks
sufficient clothing for the weather (Thornberry, 2013).
Goldworthy (2015) divided neglect into six sub-categories:
·
Supervisory neglect: Characterized by the absence of a parent or
guardian which can lead to physical harm, sexual abuse or criminal behaviour;
Supervisory neglect: Characterized by the absence of a parent or
guardian which can lead to physical harm, sexual abuse or criminal behaviour;
·
Physical neglect: Characterized by the failure to provide the basic
physical necessities, such as a safe and clean home;
Physical neglect: Characterized by the failure to provide the basic
physical necessities, such as a safe and clean home;
·
Medical neglect: Characterized by the lack of providing medical care;
Medical neglect: Characterized by the lack of providing medical care;
·
Emotional Neglect: Characterized by a lack of nurturance,
encouragement and support;
Emotional Neglect: Characterized by a lack of nurturance,
encouragement and support;
·
Educational neglect: Characterized by the caregivers lack to provide an
education and additional resources to actively participate in the school
system; and
Educational neglect: Characterized by the caregivers lack to provide an
education and additional resources to actively participate in the school
system; and
·
Abandonment: when the parent or guardian leaves a child alone
for a long period of time without a babysitter.
Abandonment: when the parent or guardian leaves a child alone
for a long period of time without a babysitter.
