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CHILD ABUSE
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FOUR ISSUES OF ABUSE

• PHYSICAL ABUSE

2. SEXUAL ABUSE

• EMOTIONAL ABUSE

4. NEGLECT
Abuse is cyclical in nature. That means it often
runs in cycles the great-grandparents abused
the grandparents, and grandparents abused the
parents, and parents abuse their children, and
the children will eventually turn out to be
abusers also. Abuse is a learned behavior.
The potential abuser needs to learn an
alternative method to abusive behaviors. This
happens with education OR therapy
interventions, not just desire not to abuse.
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PHYSICAL ABUSE
Bruises, lacerations and abrasions, skeletal
injuries, head injuries, and internal injuries
from hitting, shaking, twisting, pulling,
punching, beating with the hand or an object,
biting, force feeding, and kicking.
Burns from cigarettes,
hot liquids, confinement ropes or irons.
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EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Because emotional abuse attacks the child's
psyche and self-concept, the victim comes to see
him or herself as unworthy of love and affection.
Children who are constantly shamed, humiliated,
terrorized or rejected suffer at least as much,
if not more, than if they had been physically
assaulted. An infant who is being severely
deprived of basic emotional nurturing, even
though physically well cared for, can fail to
thrive and can eventually die. Less severe forms
of early emotional deprivation may produce babies
who grow into anxious and insecure children who
are slow to develop or who might have low
self-esteem.
Abusing a victim emotionally is considered a
pattern of behavior that can seriously interfere
with a child's positive development. Emotional
abuse is probably the least understood of all
child abuse, and can be the cruelest and most
destructive of all types of abuse. It includes
rejecting, ignoring, isolating, terrorizing, and
corrupting.
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SEXUAL ABUSE
Child sexual abuse is any sexual act with a child
performed by an adult or an older child. This
might be fondling the child's genitals getting
the child to fondle an adult's genitals mouth to
genital contact rubbing an adult's genitals on
the child or actually penetrating the child's
vagina or anus with a body part or object. Other
forms of abuse can also occur that are not as
easy to detect. These include showing an adult's
genitals to a child, showing the child
pornographic or "dirty" pictures or videotapes,
or using the child as a model to make
pornographic materials.
Child molesters often groom their victims by
giving them attention, affection, or gifts. The
trauma can be so great, the victim may even
repress the memory. Child molesters are most
often someone the child knowsand NOT a stranger.
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This little girl longs to go to school, but is
forced to stay home and care for an alcohol
dependent mother.
NEGLECT
The difference between abuse and neglect is that
abuse represents an action against a child while
neglect represents a lack of action for the
child.
Not meeting a child's essential needs for food,
clothing, and shelter is the most basic form of
neglect. But there are many other forms. Parents
may not obtain preventive dental or medical care
for the child, such as vaccinations and routine
physical examinations. Parents may delay
obtaining medical care when the child is ill,
putting the child at risk of more severe illness
and even death. Parents may not make sure the
child attends school or is privately schooled.
Parents may leave a child in the care of a person
who is known to be abusive, or may leave a young
child unattended.
A hungry child with a diaper heavy with urine and
feces, long past changing time.
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VICTIM PROFILE
From nearly 1,800,000 referrals of suspected
child abuse, approximately 896,000 cases were
verified as abuse, which constituted an annual
incidence of 5.7 per 1000 children. The victims
often hide the abuse to protect the offender,
either because they have been threatened or
because they are fearful.
Approximately 60 were victims of neglect 20
were victims of physical abuse 10 were victims
of sexual abuse 7 were victims of emotional abuse
Children ages birth to 3 years had the highest
rates of victimization. Girls were slightly more
likely to be victims than boys, but boys suffered
more serious injuries.
While the rate of White victims of child abuse or
neglect was 10.7 per 1,000 children of the same
race, the rate for American Indian or Alaska
Natives was 21.7 per 1,000 children and for
African-Americans 20.2 per 1,000 children.
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OFFENDER PROFILE
Being a single parent, being poor, having
problems with drug or alcohol abuse, or having a
mental health problem such as a personality
disorder, depression, trouble coping with stress,
a hot temper, immaturity, little knowledge of
parenting skills, having feelings of isolation,
or low self-esteem can make a parent more likely
to neglect or abuse a childbut it comes in all
looks, and crosses over all social, educational,
age, and economic levels.
Perpetrator has history of being abused
themselves. May have difficulty with emotions
and interpersonal skills. They seek power and
control.
If abuser is not a family member or friend, it is
often a caregiver or someone in a
service-oriented profession or position. May be
over-protective or possessive. May be dominating
or have unrealistic expectations of a child.
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SYMPTOMS OF ABUSE
Unusual sexual behavior or knowledge Eating
and/or sleeping pattern changes Change in school
performance and relationships with
peers Inappropriate touching of others Compulsive
behaviors or extreme tantrums Promiscuity,
prostitution or substance abuse Suicidal thoughts
and/or depression Chronic somatic problems such
as stomach aches, vomiting, or headaches. Affectio
nless or overly affectionate Aggressive behaviors
at school or toward siblings, possessions, or
pets Destruction of property, arson, vandalism,
truancy Tries to make people angry at
them Withdrawn or social isolated Clinging a
need for reassurance Verbally abusive Angry,
hateful, negative attitude May hurt themselves
self destructive activities Age regression or
infantile behavior
Note... One or more of these characteristics
present at any given time does not necessarily
indicate child sexual abuse. In cases of abuse,
these behaviors overlap and are frequently
excessive, for a substantial period of time.
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EFFECTS OF ABUSE
Factors research has shown to influence the
effects of abuse Age of the child when the
abuse happened younger is usually more harmful.
Who committed the abuse effects are generally
worse when it was a parent, step-parent or
trusted adult than a stranger. Whether the child
told anyone, and if so, the person's response.
 Doubting, ignoring, blaming and shaming
responses can be extremely harmful - in some
cases even more than the abuse itself. Whether
or not violence was involved, and if so, how
severe. How long the abuse went on. Whether the
abuse involved deliberately humiliating the
child. How "normal" such abuse was in the
extended family and local culture. Whether the
child had loving family members, and/or knew that
someone loved her or him. Whether the child had
some good relationships - with siblings, friends,
teachers, coaches, etc. Whether the child had
any relationships in which "negative" feelings
were acceptable, and could be expressed and
managed safely and constructively.
Victims may have experienced dissociation
(feeling separate from their body) and may even
have delayed recall of the abuse. They often have
behavioral difficulties, increased incidence of
juvenile delinquency and adult criminality,
alcohol and drug abuse problems, physical health
problems, poor mental and emotional health,
social difficulties with peers and adults, and
display abusive behavior toward others
(especially their own children).
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MUNCHAUSEN SYNDROME BY PROXY
Münchausen Syndrome by Proxy
was named after an 18th century
dignitary named Baron von Munchausen who was
known for telling exaggerated stories.
Individuals who exhibit the characteristics of
this syndrome fabricate, exaggerate, or cause
illness or sickness, usually of their own child.
MSBP is a form of child abuse and can prove
fatal. The abuser is most often the mother.
Children subjected to this form of abuse may be
hospitalized repeatedly and undergo numerous
surgeries.
Researchers first began to recognize this pattern
of abuse in the 1970s. The exact psychological
basis for MSBP is not known. Some people believe
it is a complex way of seeking attention. The
mother plays the role of a dedicated and
attentive caregiver, a constant bedside martyr
who sacrifices her own time and happiness to sit,
worry, and care about her child. She receives
praise for her dedication and stamina in putting
her childs needs above her own day after day.
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REPORT CHILD ABUSE
Some people are afraid to make this phone call,
for fear that police rush in and tear apart
families. Wrong! Your call will prompt an
investigation, and may save a child. This phone
call can be made anonymously.
Help StopChild Abuse Call the Abuse/Neglect
Hotline at1-800-652-1999 Calling from Outside of
Nebraska402-595-1324
State law requires any person who suspects that
a child has been physically or sexually
abused or neglected to report it promptly to the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
Do not use e-mail to report cases of abuse. Do
not investigate yourself.If there is an
emergency, call local law enforcement
immediately. Individuals working with children
can forfeit their license or certification for
failure to report suspected abuse.
CHILDHELP USA NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE
HOTLINE1-800-4-A-CHILD 24 HOURS A DAY
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CHILD ABUSE
Child abuse statistics are reported by the
National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect
or NCCAN. Information is collected on studies
conducted by the federally funded Third National
Incidence Study (NIS-3) OF 2002, and updated in
2005.
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• Preparing individuals for life and work
• Strengthening families
• Empowering communities
• Created by Barbara L. Swarthout, Family
  Consumer Sciences teacher at Elkhorn High School