GRADUATE SCHOOL
3RD Term, SY 2016 – 2017
SUBJECT CODE : MSJ C015
DESCRIPTION : DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
DATE : 9/July/2017
REPORTER : Debbie Karyle F. Arquero
FACILITATOR : Dr. Judith G. Martinez
CHILD MALTREATMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
The child is one of the most important assets of the society and nation as a whole. Filipino
culture regards the child as a gift from God and a source of happiness. Thus, in consonance with
this cultural doctrine, P.D 603 otherwise known as Child and Youth Welfare Code was
promulgated in order to afford maximum protection and uphold the welfare of the children
specially the disadvantage ones.
For more than three decades now we have been hearing of child abuse against children.
Increased media attention has created a widespread public awareness about the issue. Abuses
range from sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and physical abuse/battering or maltreatment and
other forms of abuses and assaults perpetrated on child by adults. Child abuse occurs in all
economic, social, and professional levels. The effects of abuse upon the victims are traumatic.
Physical injury may be healed in a short time, but the psychological trauma associated with the
experience may remain lifetime.
II. DISCUSSIONS
History of Child Maltreatment
Since ancient times, reports have documented maltreatment of children (Bakan, 1971). Many
societies practiced infanticide for population control or to eliminate children with birth defects.
Abandoning and drowning babies was not uncommon.
Until 1800, some contemporary scholars maintain that infanticide was the most frequent
crime in Europe (Piers, 1978). The era of industrialization in modern Western cultures evidenced
the abusive use of children in the labor force. Children were employed in textile mills, mines,
and other industries involving dangerous, exhausting, and unhealthy work. Children as young as
5 years of age worked 10-14 hours a day, 6 days a week. In some rural areas of China female
infanticide remains a common practice.
Societies historically have regarded children as the property of their parents and allowed
adults to treat their property as they saw fit, without independent status or rights (Walker,
Bonner, & Kaufman,1988).
In 1874, the first court case of child abuse was tried. Mary Ellen Wilson, 8-year old, was
being beaten and starved on a daily basis by her stepmother. The case was brought to Henry
Bergh after attempting to seek help from several other sources without success. A courtroom
filled with concerned New Yorkers, most of them upper class women, heard the shocking details
of her life. The jury only took 20 minutes to find the stepmother guilty of assault and battery
(Pleck, 1987).
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The case of Mary Ellen led to the 1874 founding of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Children (SPCC) (Pagelow, 1984).
MAJOR TYPES OF CHILD ABUSE
1. CHILD NEGLECT
Child Neglect is the term used most often to encompass parents’ or caretakers’ failure to
provide basic physical health care, supervision, nutrition, personal hygiene, emotional
nurturing, education, or safe housing. It also refers to deficits in the provision of a child’s
basic needs. It is the most reported form of child maltreatment (Daro &McCuerd7, 1991;
Sdlak, 1990; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 1988).
SUB-TYPES OF NEGLECT
a) Health care neglect- refusing to, or delay in, providing physical or mental health care.
b) Personal hygiene neglect- standards of personal care and cleanliness are not met.
c) Nutritional neglect- failure to provide a diet of quality and nutritional balance.
d) Neglect of household safety- safety hazards in or around our house pose a danger.
e) Neglect of household sanitation- standards of housekeeping care and cleanliness are not
met.
f) Inadequate shelter- a stable shelter/nor a stable home is not provided or is inadequate.
g) Abandonment- physical desertion of one’s child, including potentially fatal or nonfatal
abandonment.
h) Supervisory neglect- deficits in parental supervision that can lead to injury.
i) Educational neglect- parents do not provide necessary care and supervision to promote
education.
j) Emotional neglect- child’s need for emotional support, security, and encouragement are
not provided.
k) Fostering delinquency- encouraging the development of illegal behaviors.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD NEGLECT
The effect of child neglect is long lasting and may be associated with more serious harm than
physical or sexual abuse.
A. SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES
One of the most cited problems associated with neglects difficulty in social skills and
adjustment. The child is passive, shows deficits in prosocial behaviors and communication,
and displays physical aggression. The parents exhibits less sensitivity, appears more
withdrawn and uninvolved, uses less general speech and phrases of acceptance, uses more
direct imperatives, has or displays low rates of social interaction and verbal instruction.
There is a disturbed peer interaction such as deficits in prosocial behavior, social withdrawal,
and isolation.
B. INTELLECTUAL DEFICITS
Neglect victims show deficits in language abilities, academic skills, intelligence, and
problem solving skills. Wodarski and colleagues evaluated 139 school-age an adolescent
physically abused, neglected, and nonmaltreated children and found that neglected children
evidenced significantly more academic problems, including overall school performance and
tests of language, reading and math skills, than the control group of nonmaltreated children.
C. EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS
Egeland et al (1983) summarized their findings on their research regarding physically and
emotionally abused and neglected children. They concluded that “This is an unhappy group
of children, resenting the least positive and the most negative affect of all groups… and in
general did not have the skills necessary to cope with various situations”.
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D. PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES
The most serious physical consequence of child neglect is death and an additional
physical consequence is failure to thrive. FTT (Failure to thrive) is a syndrome characterized
by mark retardation or cessation of growth during first 3 years of life.
2. PSYCHOLOGICAL MATREATMENT
Authors have described psychological maltreatment as the most difficult form of child
maltreatment to define. Disagreement originates in determining what is meant in the term
psychological some experts nonphysical behaviors on the part of adults, such as failing to
respond to a child’s needs for nurturance and attention terrorizing a child, or insulting or
swearing at a child. Others focus on the nonphysical consequences to the child victim,
including a variety of emotional and cognitive symptoms such as anxiety and fear. Still,
experts define psychological maltreatment broadly including a combination of physical and
nonphysical parental action that result in negative psychological consequences.
SUB-TYPES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL MALTREATMENT
a) Rejecting- verbal or symbolic acts that express feelings of rejection toward the child.
b) Degrading- actions that deprecate a child.
c) Terrorizing- actions or threats that cause extreme fear and/ or anxiety in a child.
d) Isolating- preventing the child from engaging in normal social activities.
e) Missocializing- modeling, permitting, or encouraging antisocial behavior.
f) Exploiting- using a child for the needs, advantages, or profits of the caretaker.
g) Denying emotional responsiveness- acts of omission whereby caretaker does not
provide necessary simulation and responsiveness.
h) Close confinement- restricting a child’s movement by binding limbs.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL
MALTREATMENT
A. INITIAL EFFECTS
The short-term effects associated with psychological maltreatment include interpersonal
maladjustment, intellectual deficits, and affective behavioral problems. Psychologically
maltreated children are more likely to be insecurely attached to a parent (Crittenden &
Ainswoth, 1989; Egeland 1991). They also exhibit lower levels of social competence and
adjustment.
Intellectual deficits also distinguished psychologically maltreated children. Researchers
found lower achievement and have uncovered academic problems and deficits of cognitive
ability and problem solving.
A final effect of psychological maltreatment includes a variety of affective and
behavioral problems. Several studies have substantiated that psychologically maltreated
children exhibit significantly more general behavior problems relative to control children.
Psychologically maltreated children also demonstrate more specific problems such as
aggression, delinquency, disruptive classroom behavior, self- abusive behavior, hostility,
anger and anxiety compared to control children.
B. LONG-TERM EFFECTS
Other studies have confirmed the presence of low self-esteem, anxiety, depression,
dissociation, and interpersonal sensitivity in adults with a history of psychological
maltreatment.
3. SEXUAL ABUSE
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Child sexual abuse is any contacts or interactions between a child and an adult when the
child is being used for the sexual stimulation of the perpetrator or another person. Sexual
abuse may also be committed by a person under the age of 18 when that person is either
significantly older than the victim or when the perpetrator is in the position of power or
control over another child. (National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect).
EFFECTS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
A. SHORT-TERM EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN
PRECHOOL, SCHOOL-AGE, AND ADOLESCENT CHILDREN
BEHAVIORAL EMOTIONAL COGNITIVE PHYSICAL
PRESCHOOL Regression/Immaturity Anxiety Learning Bruises
Sexualized behavior Clinging difficulties Genital bleeding
Seductive behavior Nightmares Genital pain
Excessive masturbation Fears Genital itching
Sex language Depression Problems
Genital exposure Guilt walking
Difficulty separating Hostility Genital odors
Anger
Tantrums
Aggression
SCHOOL AGE Poor Peer Relations Anxiety Leaning Enuresis
Stealing Phobias Difficulties Encopresis
Delinquency Nightmare Poor Headache
Social Withdrawal Obsessions Concentration Stomachache
Sexual Victimization Of Others Suicidal Declining Genital odors
Genital Exposure Low self-esteem Grades Genital pain
Regression/Immaturity Fears
ADOLESCENT Running away Suicidal Leaning Pregnancy
Early marriage Low self-esteem Difficulties Sleep
Substance abuse Obsessions Poor disturbance
Truancy Nightmares Concentration Genital pain
Stealing Guilt Declining Genital itching
Dropping out of school Anger Grades
Prostitution
Stealing
Seductive behavior
In terms of initial effects, investigators have identified a wide range of emotional, cognitive,
physical and behavioral problems. Kendall-Tacket et al (1993) concluded that sexualized
behavior and post-traumatic stress disorder are the two most common symptoms identified in
sexually abused children. Sexualized behavior encompasses overt sexual acting out toward adults
or other children, compulsive masturbation, excessive sexual curiosity, sexual promiscuity, and
precocious sexual play and knowledge. Post-traumatic stress disorder includes a number of
difficulties such as nightmares, fears, feelings of isolation, and an inability to enjoy usual
activities, somatic complaints, symptoms of autonomic arousal, and guilt feelings.
B. LONG-TERM EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
Type of Effect Specific problem Specific symptoms
Emotional Depression Suicidality
Low self-esteem
Self-blame
Anxiety Fears
Phobias
Interpersonal Difficulty trusting others
Poor social adjustment
Social isolation
Feelings of alienation and
insecurity
Difficulty of forming
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maintaining relationships
Parenting difficulties
sexual revictimization
Post-traumatic stress disorder Re-experiencing Intrusive thoughts
symptomatology Flashbacks
Nightmares
Numbing/ avoidance Dissociation
Amnesia for abusive events
“spacing out”
Associated symptoms Poor concentration
Sexual adjustment Anorgasmia
Arousal/desire dysfunction
Behavior dysfunction Eating disorders Binging
Purging
Overeating
Substance abuse Alcoholism
Ilicit drugs
Self-mutilation Cutting body parts
Carving body areas
Hitting head or body with or
against objects
RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE
SYSTEM LEVEL RISK FACTOR
Child Female gender
Prepubescent age
Few close friends
Passivity
Quiet
Trusting
Unhappy appearance
Depressed effect
Needy
Perpetrator Male gender
Childhood history of sexual and physical victimization
Antisocial disregards for concerns of others
Poor impulse control
Passive
Sensitive about performance of women
Deficient heterosocial skills
Feelings of dependency, inadequacy, loneliness
Sexually attracted to children
Use of alcohol/drugs
Use of cognitive distortions to justify behavior
Fantasizing about sexual activity with children
Family Spouse abuse
Divorced home
Unhappy family life
Poor relationship with parents
Parents in conflict
Living in a family with a stepfather or without a father
Mother employed outside of home
Mother disabled or ill
History of sexual abuse in mother
Sociocultural Sanctioning sexual relations between adults and children
Neglecting children’s sexual development
Male-dominated household
Child pornography
Objectifying sexual partners-
CHILDREN EXPOSED TO MARITAL VIOLENCE: ITS EFFECTS AND
INTERVENTIONS
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Throughout history, children have not only been abused directly themselves, but they
have also suffered indirectly by observing violence between their parents (Pleck, 1987). Up until
this time, the public and the scientific community seemed to believe that children were oblivious
to marital violence or that it had no effect (Rossman, 1994). This belief has turned out to be
totally false. As Roy (1988) observed, “Children from violent homes are human time-bombs set
to explode when they assume the role of husband or wife in adulthood”.
Children frequently suffer from direct and indirect forms of abuse simultaneously.
Children in these violent homes are traumatized by fear for themselves and their mothers, and
they experience a painful sense of helplessness (Silvern, Karyl, & Landis, 1995). Cumulatively,
they receive a powerful lesson that people who love each other also hurt each other (Jaffe.
Wolfe, & Wilson).
Children exposed to marital violence tend to exhibit many more behavior problems than
nonexposed children and symptomatology frequently overlaps (Gleason, 1995). A behavior such
as truancy occurs. Children exposed to marital violence suffer elevated levels of physical
symptoms such as colds, sore throats, and bed-wetting, and they experience more hospitalization.
REPORTED EFFECTS OF OBSERVING INTERPARENTAL VIOLENCE ON
CHILDREN
Internalizing and emotional effects
1. Anxiety/temperament
2. Low self-esteem
3. Shyness
4. Depression
5. Suicide attempts
6. Withdrawn
7. Trauma/stress reactions
8. Feeling of loss/anger/sadness/confusion
9. Self-blame
10. Physical problems
School and social competence
1. school problems
2. social incompetence
3. low empathy
4. poor problem-solving, nonviolent resolution, and conflict resolution skills
5. acceptance/legitimization
6. poor cognition
Externalizing behavioral problems
1. aggression
2. alcohol/drug use
INTERVENTION FOR CHILDREN EXPOSED TO MARITAL VIOLENCE
Clinical Assessment
A decision about appropriate intervention needs to begin with careful assessment and
diagnosis. Diagnosis is not straightforward because symptomatology overlaps. It is important to
know, for example, if the symptoms are connected with trauma, depression, conduct, or attention
deficit disorder (Silvern &Kaersvang, 1989).
Safety Assessments
The practitioners need to evaluate the plan for the child’s physical and psychological safety.
The four issues involved are keeping the child’s whereabouts confidential, working out a safety
plan for the child if marital violence recurs, helping the child avoid becoming an intermediary in
stopping the violence, and conducting a lethality estimate to avoid revictimizing the child when
it seems essential to bring family members together.
Examination of Family History
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Ascertaining the presence of risk factors such as depression among the child’s family
members provides clues about depressive symptoms in the child. This approach may help
separate out symptoms that are unrelated to the symptoms brought about by exposure to parental
violence.
Child’s Developmental Level
A major consideration is the child’s developmental level. An infant’s or a pre-schooler’s
needs are different from those of teenagers, and there are individual differences in reactions to
trauma within age groups. Chronological age, however, may not be the best indicator of
functional level because traumatized children may be developmentally delayed (Rossman, 1994).
INTERVENTIONS
Most mental workers have focused their counseling efforts on the psychopathologies and
developmental impairments of the exposed children to marital violence.
A. Children’s Group Counseling
Children receive treatment in a group situation. They receive treatment in safe homes,
family court clinics, and outpatient social service agencies.
Goals of Group Treatment (Hughes. 1992)
1. Dealing with anger
2. Developing safety skills
3. Obtaining social support
4. Developing social competence and a good self-concept
5. Understanding family violence
6. Specifying wishes about family relationships
B. Mothers’ Counseling
This approach helps mothers learn how to respond effectively and supportively to their
children’s needs. It does not imply that she is to blame for violence but it helps them
discipline their children more effectively.
C. Conjoint Family Therapy
Parents need to become sensitive to the harmful effects their violence has on children and
to take more responsibility. Everyone presumably contributes to the violence, everyone
needs treatment.
INDICATIONS OF CHILD MALTREATMENT
Physical Indicators of Abuse
Bruises Burns Lacerations & Skeletal injuries Head injuries Internal injuries
abrasions
On body Immersion burns: On lips ,eyes, on Fractures of long Missing or Intestinal injuries
posterior doughnut shape infant’s face bones from loosened teeth from hitting or
on the buttocks twisting and kicking
pulling
Unusual Cigarette burns: On gum tissue, Separation of Absence of Rupture of eart-
patterns Hands, feet caused by forced bone and shaft hair related blood
feeding vessels
In clusters Rope burns from On External Detachment of Inflammation of
confinement genitals tissue of bone and abdominal area
shaft
On infants Dry burns caused Spiral fractures Subdural/
by irons retinal
Multiples and Stiff, swollen, Nasal or jaw
various stage enlarged joints fracture
of healing
Indicators of Sexually Abused Child
Younger children Pre-puberty & teenage Older children
Compulsive masturbation Sexual inference in school Suicide attempts
artwork
Becoming seductive Excessive bathing Early marriage
Excessive curiosity about Pulling up skirts Running away
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sex
Altered sleep patterns Teaching others how to Pregnancy
masturbate
Separation anxiety Alcohol or drug abuse
Overly compulsive
behavior
Developing fears and
phobias
SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME
It is one of the leading forms of fatal child abuse. When a baby is vigorously shaken, the head
moves back and forth. This sudden whiplash motion can cause bleeding inside the head and
increased pressure on the brain, causing the brain to pull apart and resulting in injury to the baby.
This occurs most frequently on infants younger that six months old, yet can occur up to the age
of three. Shaking a baby can injure a baby for life. These injuries include brain swelling and
damage, mental retardation, blindness, paralysis and death, cerebral palsy, developmental delays,
and hearing loss.
CHILD WELFARE
Child Protection in the Philippines
A range of government agencies and mechanisms provide national policy and program responses
to child maltreatment in the Philippines.
These include;
Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD)- the primary welfare agency of
the government. Its role is to set standards, accredit and provide consultative services to
public and private institutions, organisations and persons engaged in social welfare
activities, as well as monitor the performance of these bodies and enforce compliance to
standards (Save the Children 2011). The DSWD provides and regulates residential care,
domestic and inter-country adoption and a range of family based welfare program (PSA
and UNICEF 2015).
Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC)- the principal agency for children's issues
and policy in the Philippines, tasked with designing, coordinating and monitoring policy
for children, as well as monitoring children's rights in the Philippines (Bessell 2009;
CWC 2011).
Committee for the Special Protection of Children (CSPC)-based at the Department of
Justice
Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children (BCPC)- operate across the local
government level and offer an initial response to issues of child protection in local
communities, assisting abandoned, maltreated and abused children (Save the
Children 2011; ECPAT, 2006).
The criminal justice system's efforts to protect children is supported by the Department of
Justice's Committee for the Special Protection of Children which provides legal protection of
children and monitors and coordinate the investigation and prosecution of cases of child abuse
detailed in the Republic Act 7610 entitled ‘An Act Providing For Stronger Deterrence and
Special Protection Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination, Providing Penalties
for its Violation and For Other Purposes’, signed into law in 1992 (Save the Children 2011). This
committee works to support this legislation and apply laws and policies that are designed to
protect children. The primary government and non-government programmatic response for
victims of child abandonment, neglect and abuse is through residential (institutional care
provided in a non-family group setting) care (Save the Children 2011).
PHILIPPINE LAWS ON CHILDREN
1. P.D 603 “The Child and Youth welfare Code of the Philippines”
2. R.A 7610 “Special Protection of Children Against Abuse , Exploitation and
Discrimination Act”
3. R.A 9262 “Violence Against Women and Children Act of 2004”
III. CONCLUSION
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Child maltreatment is a growing problem in our society. It consists of child neglect,
psychological maltreatment, and child sexual abuse and other forms of abuse and assaults
perpetrated on children by adults and most of them exercise parental authority over them. The
effects caused by such abuses leaves a scar on the children while growing up. Authorities and
clinician provide intervention programs in order to cater to the needs of those abused children.
Awareness of this kind of phenomenon in the society serves an eye opener to the community to
be responsible and sensitive to the needs of a child. For the youth are regarded as the hope of our
nation.
IV. REFERENCES
Barnett, W., Perrin, C. and Perrin, R. (2015). Victimology. USA:Routledege
Carandang, M.LA., Sison, B.A.L. (2004). A primer on Family Violence: The Path to Healing,
Pasig City: Anvil Publication
Eduardo, J. P, Panganoron, C.R. (2016). Juvenile Delinquency and Crime Prevention,
Philippines:Wiseman;s Books Trading, Inc.
Sanchez , C.A. and Sanchez R.A. (2005). Forensic Psychology. Mandaluyong City, Philippines.
National Bookstore
Roche, S. (2017, January 17) Child Protection and Maltreatment in the Philippines. Wiley
Library. Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/app5.167/full
