Oras National High School

Oras, Castilla, Sorsogon

Research:

Child abuse
And
Neglect

Submitted By:

Latuna, Abegail D.

Submitted To:

Mr. Rommel N. Diesta

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 **Acknowledgement**

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher

Mr. Rommel N. Diesta as well as our principal Mrs. Thelma H. Laurenaria who

gave me the golden opportunity to do this wonderful project on the topic Child abuse

and Neglect, which also helped me in doing a lot of Research and i came to know

about so many new things

I am really thankful to them.

Secondly i would also like to thank my family, who gave me inspiration, love and

financial support, to my friends who helped me a lot in finishing this project within the

limited time, and to those who have mentioned but were also helpful in this research,

a million thanks to all of you...

**Table of Content**
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Acknowledgement.....................................................................i

Table of Content.........................................................................ii

Introduction..............................................................................iii

I. The Problem and its Setting

I. Statement of the problem............................................

2. B- Importance of the study...............................................

3. C- Scope of delimitation...................................................

4. D- Definition of term........................................................

II. Survey of related Literature....................................................

III. Summary

Conclusion........................................................................

Recommendation..............................................................

IV. Bibliography........................................................................

**Introduction**

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 Child abuse, physical, sexual, or emotional maltreatment or neglect of children

by parents, guardians, or others responsible for a child's welfare. Physical abuse is

characterized by physical injury, usually inflicted as a result of a beating or

inappropriately harsh discipline. Sexual abuse includes molestation, incest, rape,

prostitution, or use of a child for pornographic purposes. Neglect can be physical in

nature (abandonment, failure to seek needed health care), educational (failure to see

that a child is attending school), or emotional (abuse of a spouse or another child in the

child's presence, allowing a child to witness adult substance abuse). Inappropriate

punishment, verbal abuse, and scapegoating are also forms of emotional or

psychological child abuse. Some authorities consider parental actions abusive if they

have negative future consequences example, exposure of a child to violence or harmful

substances, extending in some views to the passive inhalation of cigarette smoke.

Until quite recently, children had very few rights in regard to protection from

violence by their parents, and still continue to do so in many parts of the world.

Historically, fathers had virtually unlimited rights in regard to their children and how

they chose to discipline them. In many cultures, such as in Ancient Rome, a father

could legally kill his children; many cultures have also allowed fathers to sell their

children into slavery. Child sacrifice was also a common practice. Today, corporal

punishment of children by their parents remains legal in most countries, but in Western

countries that still allow the practice there are strict limits on what is permitted. The

first country to outlaw parental corporal punishment was Sweden (parents' right to

spank their own children was first removed in 1966, and it was explicitly prohibited by

law from July 1979).

I. The Problem and its Setting

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 1. A Statement of the Problem

1. What is Child Abuse?

Child abuse is the physical, sexual or emotional maltreatment or neglect of a

child or children. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention (CDC) and the Department for Children And Families (DCF) define child

maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or

other caregiver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child.

[2]
Child abuse can occur in a child's home, or in the organizations, schools or

communities the child interacts with. There are four major categories of child

abuse: neglect, physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

2. What are causes of Child abuse?

Child abuse is a complex phenomenon with multiple causes. Understanding the

causes of abuse is crucial to addressing the problem of child abuse. Parents who

physically abuse their spouses are more likely than others to physically abuse their

children. However, it is impossible to know whether marital strife is a cause of child

abuse, or if both the marital strife and the abuse are caused by tendencies in the

abuser. This commonly used term refers to the process of parents' setting expectations

for their child that are clearly beyond the child's capability. When parents' expectations

are particularly deviant (e.g., preschool children who are expected to be totally

responsible for self-care or provision of nurturance to parents) the resulting frustration

caused by the child's non-compliance is believed to function as a contributory if not

necessary cause of child abuse.

3. What are the effects of Child abuse and Neglect on?

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 a. Psychological

Children who have a history of neglect or physical abuse are at risk of

developing psychiatric problems, or a disorganized attachment style. Disorganized

attachment is associated with a number of developmental problems, including

dissociative symptoms, as well as anxiety, depressive, and acting out symptoms. A

study by Dante Cicchetti found that 80% of abused and maltreated infants exhibited

symptoms of attachment. When some of these children become parents, especially if

they suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociative symptoms, and

other sequelae of child abuse, they may encounter difficulty when faced with their

infant and young children's needs and normative distress, which may in turn lead to

adverse consequences for their child's social-emotional development. Despite these

potential difficulties, psychosocial intervention can be effective, at least in some cases,

in changing the ways maltreated parents think about their young children

b. Physical

The immediate physical effects of abuse or neglect can be relatively minor

(bruises or cuts) or severe (broken bones, haemorrhage, or even death). In some cases

the physical effects are temporary; however, the pain and suffering they cause a child

should not be discounted. Meanwhile, the long-term impact of child abuse and neglect

on physical health is just beginning to be explored. The long-term effects can be:

 Shaken baby syndrome. Shaking a baby is a common form of child abuse that

often results in permanent neurological damage (80% of cases) or death (30% of

cases). Damage results from intracranial hypertension (increased pressure in the

skull) after bleeding in the brain, damage to the spinal cord and neck, and rib or

bone fractures (Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 2007).

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 Impaired brain development. Child abuse and neglect have been shown, in some

cases, to cause important regions of the brain to fail to form or grow properly,

resulting in impaired development (De Bellis & Thomas, 2003). These alterations in

brain maturation have long-term consequences for cognitive, language, and

academic abilities (Watts-English, Fortson, Gibler, Hooper, & De Bellis, 2006).

NSCAW found more than three-quarters of foster children between 1 and 2 years of

age to be at medium to high risk for problems with brain development, as opposed

to less than half of children in a control sample (ACF/OPRE, 2004a).

 Poor physical health. Several studies have shown a relationship between various

forms of household dysfunction (including childhood abuse) and poor health

(Flaherty et al., 2006; Felitti, 2002). Adults who experienced abuse or neglect

during childhood are more likely to suffer from physical ailments such as allergies,

arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and ulcers (Springer, Sheridan,

Kuo, & Carnes, 2007).

4. What are the treatment approaches used for the victims of child abuse

and neglect?

The targets for treatment are determined to a large degree by the child's

presenting symptomatology and are defined following the initial assessment. There are,

however, certain overriding goals that should guide the treatment process. Treatment

should be directive and focused on the abuse or trauma itself. Treatment approaches

1) Help and encourage the child to talk and think about the abuse/neglect

without embarrassment or significant anxiety;

2) help the child to modulate and express feelings about the abuse;

3) reduce the intensity and frequency of behavioral and emotional symptoms;

4) clarify and change distorted, inaccurate, or unhealthy thinking patterns that

might negatively affect the child’s view of self and others;

5) help the child develop healthier attachments;

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 6) strengthen the child’s coping skills

7) enhance social skills, and

8) educate the child regarding self-protective strategies.

5. Why is child abuse prevention important?

The impact of child maltreatment can be profound. Research shows that child

maltreatment is associated with adverse health and mental health outcomes in children

and families, and those negative effects can last a lifetime. In addition to the impact on

the child, child abuse and neglect affect various systems — including physical and

mental health, law enforcement, judicial and public social services, and non-profit

agencies as they respond to the incident and support the victims. One analysis of the

immediate and long-term economic impact of child abuse and neglect suggests that

child maltreatment costs the nation as much as $258 million each day, or approximately

$94 billion each year.

1. B Importance of the Study

A support-group structure is needed to reinforce parenting skills and closely

monitor the child's well-being. Visiting home nurse or social-worker visits are also

required to observe and evaluate the progress of the child and his/her caretaking

situation. The support-group structure and visiting home nurse or social-worker visits

are not mutually exclusive. Many studies have demonstrated that the two measures

must be coupled together for the best possible outcome. Children's school programs

regarding "good touch...bad touch" can provide children with a forum in which to role-

play and learn to avoid potentially harmful scenarios. Pediatricians can also help identify

children at risk of maltreatment and intervene with the aid of a social worker or provide

access to treatment that addresses potential risk factors such as maternal depression.

Unintended conception increases the risk of subsequent child abuse, and large family

size increases the risk of child neglect. Thus a comprehensive study for the National

Academy of Sciences concluded that affordable contraceptive services should form the
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basis for child abuse prevention. "The starting point for effective child abuse

programming is pregnancy planning," according to an analysis for US Surgeon

General C. Everett Koop.

1. C Scope of delimitation

This Study help by learning some of the common warning signs of child abuse

and neglect.

Of course, just because you see a warning sign doesn’t automatically mean a child is

being abused. It’s important to dig deeper, looking for a pattern of abusive behavior

and warning signs, if you notice something off.

Warning signs of emotional abuse in children

 Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or anxious about doing something wrong.

 Shows extremes in behavior (extremely compliant or extremely demanding;

extremely passive or extremely aggressive).

 Doesn’t seem to be attached to the parent or caregiver.

 Acts either inappropriately adult (taking care of other children) or

inappropriately infantile (rocking, thumb-sucking, throwing tantrums).

Warning signs of physical abuse in children

 Frequent injuries or unexplained bruises, welts, or cuts.

 Is always watchful and “on alert,” as if waiting for something bad to happen.

 Injuries appear to have a pattern such as marks from a hand or belt.

 Shies away from touch, flinches at sudden movements, or seems afraid to go

home.

 Wears inappropriate clothing to cover up injuries, such as long-sleeved shirts

on hot days.

Warning signs of neglect in children

 Clothes are ill-fitting, filthy, or inappropriate for the weather.

body odor).

 Untreated illnesses and physical injuries.

 Is frequently unsupervised or left alone or allowed to play in unsafe situations

and environments.

 Is frequently late or missing from school.

Warning signs of sexual abuse in children

 Trouble walking or sitting.

 Displays knowledge or interest in sexual acts inappropriate to his or her age,

or even seductive behavior.

 Makes strong efforts to avoid a specific person, without an obvious reason.

 Doesn’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical

activities.

 An STD or pregnancy, especially under the age of 14.

 Runs away from home.

Risk factors for child abuse and neglect

1. D Definition of terms
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Child abuse is more than bruises and broken bones.

Emotional abuse can severely damage a child’s mental health or social

development, leaving lifelong psychological scars.

Physical abuse involves physical harm or injury to the child. It may be the

result of a deliberate attempt to hurt the child, but not always. It can also

result from severe discipline, such as using a belt on a child, or physical

punishment that is inappropriate to the child’s age or physical condition.

Sexual Abuse occurs when an adult or older person uses his or her power over a child

to involve the child in sexual activity.

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.

Psychological abuse also referred to as emotional abuse or mental abuse, is a form

of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another to behavior that may

result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic

stress disorder. Such abuse is often associated with situations of power imbalance, such

as abusive relationships, bullying, and abuse in the workplace.

Physical Neglect

Refusal of health care—the failure to provide or allow needed care in accordance

with recommendations of a competent health care professional for a physical injury,

illness, medical condition, or impairment.

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Delay in health care—the failure to seek timely and appropriate medical care for a

serious health problem that any reasonable layman would have recognized as needing

professional medical attention.

Abandonment—the desertion of a child without arranging for reasonable care and

supervision.

Expulsion—other blatant refusals of custody, such as permanent or indefinite

expulsion of a child from the home without adequate arrangement for care by others or

refusal to accept custody of a returned runaway.

Inadequate supervision—leaving a child unsupervised or inadequately supervised for

extended periods of time or allowing the child to remain away from home overnight

without the parent or caretaker knowing or attempting to determine the child's

whereabouts.

Other physical neglect—includes inadequate nutrition, clothing, or hygiene;

conspicuous inattention to avoidable hazards in the home; and other forms of reckless

disregard of the child's safety and welfare (e.g., driving with the child while intoxicated,

leaving a young child in a car unattended).

Educational Neglect

Permitted chronic truancy—habitual absenteeism from school averaging at least 5

days a month if the parent or guardian is informed of the problem and does not

attempt to intervene.

Failure to enroll or other truancy—failure to register or enroll a child of mandatory

school age, causing the child to miss at least 1 month of school; or a pattern of keeping

a school-aged child home without valid reasons.

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Inattention to special education need—refusal to allow or failure to obtain

recommended remedial education services or neglect in obtaining or following through

with treatment for a child's diagnosed learning disorder or other special education need

without reasonable cause.

Emotional Neglect

Inadequate nurturing or affection—marked inattention to the child's needs for

affection, emotional support, or attention.

Chronic or extreme spouse abuse—exposure to chronic or extreme spouse abuse

or other domestic violence in the child's presence.

Permitted drug or alcohol abuse—encouragement or permitting of drug or alcohol

use by the child.

Permitted other maladaptive behavior—encouragement or permitting of other

maladaptive behavior (e.g., chronic delinquency, severe assault) under circumstances

where the parent or caregiver has reason to be aware of the existence and seriousness

of the problem but does not intervene.

Refusal of psychological care—refusal to allow needed and available treatment for a

child's emotional or behavioral impairment or problem in accordance with a competent

professional recommendation.

Delay in psychological care—failure to seek or provide needed treatment for a

child's emotional or behavioral impairment or problem that any reasonable layman

would have recognized as needing professional, psychological attention (e.g., suicide

attempt).

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 II. Survey of related Literature

Child maltreatment prevention policy and practice have been driven by a

continuous stream of innovation generated by researchers, advocates, and practitioners

working across disciplines to improve child safety and well-being. Settlement homes

were established in the late 19th century, social work was professionalized in the early

20th century, child abuse injuries were identified and findings published by pediatric

radiologist John Caffey and pediatrician Henry Kempe in the 1960s, and the federal

government passed the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1972. Progress in

the field has always been determined by the diligence of thought leaders in a multitude

of professions and the collaboration of diverse and unlikely partners (Myers, 2011, p.

1166). Today, the nation faces an excruciating economic climate, and many parents

find it hard to meet their children’s most basic needs. Simultaneously, political pressure

is mounting to cut social services and reduce government spending, and, as a result,

there is a demand for child maltreatment prevention interventions to be founded on an

evidence-based framework and for program efficacy trials that show positive outcomes

for children, parents, families, and communities. Rigorous evaluations rely on

experimental designs that are expensive to conduct. Regrettably, findings from such

evaluations are often disappointing.

Child Abuse & Neglect Linked to Adult Health Risks

 Emerging research show childhood abuse and lack of parental affection can have
long-lasting effects.

In fact, investigators say the emotional and physical damage may last a lifetime.

Historically, the psychological damage resulting from childhood abuse and the effects
on physical health have been well documented.

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For instance, this “toxic” stress has been linked to elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular
disease, metabolic syndrome and other physical conditions posing a significant health
risk.

III. Summary

Conclusion

From the existing research it can be concluded that neglect is still a neglected

area, and that this extends beyond research knowledge and investigation. It is strongly

linked to poverty, and is more likely in families where the mother is a young, single

parent with little social support and where there are also mental health and/or

substance abuse issues.

Although neglected children are often not in danger of immediate harm, the

long-term sequelae of persistent neglect may be as damaging, and in some cases more

damaging than isolated but more serious incidents of physical abuse.

Furthermore, neglect commonly elicits internalising symptomatology,

characterised by withdrawn passivity. Again this is behaviour that does not draw

immediate attention from other adults who come in contact with these children,

especially in educational settings such as school and preschool where undemanding

children are easily overlooked. Dirty, smelly, gummy-eyed children with running noses,

who are quiet, inattentive and slow to grasp concepts may well attract less sympathy

(and more oftendisgust) from their peers and often adults than a clear physical injury

such as bruising.

Recommendation

Given the high prevalence and negative developmental outcomes for these

children a more concerted effort needs to be made to understand and provide

assistance for them. Where parents just lack sufficient knowledge about child

development and are easily overwhelmed, providing emotional and practical support

may be sufficient. However, where neglect arises through indifference and offers of

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help are greeted with hostility, interventions directly targeting the child may be more

effective.

*** BIBLIOGRAPHY ***

Internet Sources:

http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Child%20Abuse%20&%20Neglect
%20Prevention_09_11_12.pdf

https://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/overview/whatiscap.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse
http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/09/27/child-abuse-neglect-linked-to-adult-health-
risks/60011.html#.Ur0osdIW0VA

http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/factsheets/en/childabusef
acts.pdf
http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues1/issues1.html

http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/society/child-abuse.html
http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/instree/childstatement.html

http://www.customwritings.com/blog/research-paper-help/research-paper-child-abuse.html

http://www.crcvc.ca/docs/child_abuse.pdf

http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/New-Directions-in-Child-Abuse-and-Neglect-Research.aspx

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