WHY ABUSE A CHILD?

Child abuse is already a worldwide menace that needs to be curbed. Our children go through such experiences ranging from physical abuse to SEXUAL abuse to emotional abuse and even neglect.

Abusing a child could be in one occurrence or a number of occurrences that take the counts over time.

It is no news that children suffer harm as a result if abuse most times. I discovered just recently that all this children take up this memories with them over a long period of time and it affects the society in so many ways. Their relationship with people and the opposite sex(in the case of sexual abuse) is severed and less of rich quality, hence they stand on the wrong opinion of life spanning from the ever deleterious abuse.

Can we however determine to what extent a child has suffered an abuse? What level of harm is done? What can be done to help the child out of such a mental derailing act? It matters alot to determine this level of damage, also important is to know whether the child in question:

*Does not have a parent able and willing to protect them from harm.

Harm is defined as any detrimental effect of a significant nature on the child's physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.

For harm to be significant, the detrimental effect on a child's wellbeing must be substantial or serious, more than transitory and must be demonstrable in the child's presentation, functioning or behaviour.

*Physical abuse

Physical abuse occurs when a child has suffered, or is at risk of suffering, non-accidental physical trauma or injury. Physical abuse can include:

*hitting
*shaking
*throwing
*burning
*biting
*poisoning.

Physical abuse does not always leave visible marks or injuries. It is not how bad the mark or injury is, but rather the act itself that causes injury or trauma to the child.

*Sexual abuse

Sexual abuse occurs when an adult, stronger child or adolescent uses their power or authority to involve a child in sexual activity.

*Sexual abuse can be physical, verbal or emotional and can include:

*kissing or holding a child in a sexual manner
exposing a sexual body part to a child

*having sexual relations with a child under 16 years of age

*talking in a sexually explicit way that is not age or developmentally appropriate

*making obscene phone calls or remarks to a child

*sending obscene mobile text messages or emails to a child

*fondling a child in a sexual manner persistently

*intruding on a child's privacy

*penetrating the child's vagina or anus by penis, finger or any other object

*oral sex
*rape
*incest

showing pornographic films, magazines or photographs to a child

having a child pose or perform in a sexual manner

forcing a child to watch a sexual act
child prostitution.

Emotional abuse

Emotional abuse occurs when a child's social, emotional, cognitive or intellectual development is impaired or threatened. It can include emotional deprivation due to persistent:

rejection
hostility
teasing/bullying
yelling
criticism
exposure of a child to domestic and family violence.
Neglect

Neglect occurs when a child's basic necessities of life are not met, and their health and development are affected. Basic needs include:

food
housing
health care
adequate clothing
personal hygiene
hygienic living conditions
timely provision of medical treatment
adequate supervision.

My questions is how do we stop all this?

Note: this article is partly sourced from

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE

Thanks for reading.