Child neglect is more prevalent

THE main types of child abuse are sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and abandonment. While child abandonment is easily detectable, the other three types of abuse may not be so apparent.

There is always a shroud of secrecy and deception involved in child sexual abuse. And unless the child victim is brave enough to ‘speak out,’ or someone suspects that sexual abuse is taking place and reports it, the abuse will continue. Tell-tale signs of child sexual abuse include a child becoming withdrawn and introverted or aggressive; a child having problems with sleep, even bed-wetting; a child refusing to visit a certain home or not wanting to be left alone with a certain person.

When children adopt and display sexually explicit behaviours, it can be an indicator that they have been abused or exposed to sexually explicit materials, which is also a chargeable offence. Other children may suffer academically by dropping grades, because they are unable to concentrate in school.

Both boys and girls can be victims of sexual abuse and adults alone can protect them. Adults can take preventive measures such as ensuring their children are always safe and by empowering them to speak out if they feel uncomfortable in any situation.

Physical abuse towards children is wrong; there are many alternative methods of discipline. It is difficult to ascertain if a child is being physically abused from the context that many people (including children) look upon the beating, pinching, slapping, cuffing and the bouncing of a child’s heads against the wall, as acceptable forms of punishment.

Although there are families who nurture their offspring without causing them any physical pain, for others, the corporal punishment of children is almost seen as a rite of passage. Extreme cases have arisen where children have been beaten with anything at hand because of the perpetrator’s anger and frustration.

When this happens the objective of disciplining a child has long been defeated and the child is most definitely being physically abused. Welts, scars, swellings and bruises attest to this reality.

While undoubtedly many children survive a childhood of physical abuse, the question remains: what effect does this type of treatment have on their adult lives? And what miserable childhood memories are they left with to endure for a lifetime?

Neglect of a child happens more often than one might imagine. It can be a passive situation that is hardly detectable: for example, one where children are not receiving the time and attention they deserve from an adult, although the adult is present. The children are therefore left to think their thoughts and fend for themselves to some degree. Although things may appear normal to the outside world, on closer inspection the adult is not engaging, interacting or nurturing his/her children in any way.

This type of neglect sometimes occurs when couples go their separate ways and the person left with the children becomes depressed. Depression can develop into a much more serious mental health problem if help is not sought in the early stages.

Children who are left without adult supervision for long periods are being neglected. In these situations, it often follows that the children’s academic and nutritional needs are also not being met. Their parent(s) may need support or guidance and in extreme cases, the children might need to be taken into care until the situation in their home improves to a satisfactory standard.

Other indicators of neglect are: when a child is scruffily dressed and may have body odour; if a child begs or steals food or money; if a child hardly attends school and has any type of developmental delay; if a child is always hungry and is therefore lacking nutrients; when a child has never attended a clinic (for immunisation) nor has seen a doctor, optician or dentist.

Neglect can be physical, medical, educational and/or emotional, but the child may not notice or understand this as neglect. He/she will probably not even complain about the lack of adult guidance in his life and even grow used to spending long periods alone, much to the detriment of his/her developing socio-emotional skills.

We all need to be vigilant for signs of child abuse in our communities. We have to talk about it: do what we can to prevent it and report it, even if it is only a suspicion. Child protection officers assess and investigate every report that is made to the Childcare and Protection Agency.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 or write to us at childcaregy@gmail.com
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

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