Child Abusei

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Child Abuse

Definition

The physical or mental injury, sexual abuse


or exploitation, negligent treatment, or
maltreatment of a child under the age of
18 by a person who is responsible for the
child’s welfare under circumstances which
indicate that the child’s health or welfare
is harmed or threatened.

Child Welfare Act


Definition 2

“Any behavior directed toward a child


that endangers or impairs a child’s
physical or emotional health and
development”
Child abuse in Pakistani context
• In Pakistan due to a weaker and restrictive
media set up, the lack of accurate
reporting and resources, it is hard to verify
how many such cases occurred in the pre-
internet days.
• There might have been several child
abuse cases occurring in different parts of
the country.
Cont……
• According to a report from Sahil, an NGO
working for a safe environment for children
and tackling child abuse there were:
• About 2,321 cases of child abuse in 2007
• 1838 in 2008
• 2012 in 2009
• 2252 in 2010 and
• 2303 in 2011
Cont……
• Sahil also publishes an annual report
which is referred to as 'Cruel Numbers'
indicating how many cases of child abuse
have occurred in the country.

• In 2017, as per the report about 3445


cases were reported and the 2018 edition
of the report indicated an alarming
increase in child abuse cases.
cont…

• The scenario of Pakistan regarding child abuse in 2018


was quite alarming. Compared to 2017, child sexual
abuse cases increased from 9 cases per day to 12 cases
per day.
• As per the Cruel Numbers report compiled by Sahil,
2232 cases were reported from the four provinces as
well as Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit
Baltistan.
• According to the data 56% victims were girls and 44%
were boys.
Cont…..

According to Sahil’s Cruel Numbers 2018


report, statistics indicate that:
• 65% cases were in Punjab
• 25% in Sindh
• 3% in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
• 2% in Balochistan and
• 21 cases in Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Types of Child Abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Neglect
Physical Abuse
• Physical abuse is any non-accidental injury to
a child under the age of 18 by a parent or
caretaker.
• These injuries may include beatings, shaking,
burns, human bites, strangulation, or
immersion in scalding water or others, with
resulting bruises and welts, fractures, scars,
burns, internal injuries or any other injuries.
Cont…

• The term ‘‘battered child syndrome’’ was coined


to characterize the clinical manifestations of
serious physical abuse in young children.

• This term is generally applied to children


showing repeated and devastating injury to the
skin, skeletal system or nervous system. It
includes children with multiple fractures of
different ages, head trauma and severe visceral
trauma, with evidence of repeated infliction.
Cont..
• Another form is the “The shaken infant”.
Shaking is a prevalent form of abuse seen
in very young children (less than 1 year).
Most perpetrators of such abuse are
males.
• Intracranial haemorrhages, retinal
haemorrhages and fractures of the child’s
extremities can result from very rapid
shaking of an infant.
Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment of children --- in the


form of hitting, punching, kicking or beating
--- is socially and legally accepted in most
countries.

In many countries, it is a significant


phenomenon in schools and other
institutions and in penal systems (punishing
system) for young offenders.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MALTREATMENT

 Psychological Neglect - The consistent


failure of a parent or caretaker to provide a
child with appropriate support, attention, and
affection.

 Psychological Abuse - A chronic pattern of


behaviors such as belittling (criticizing),
humiliating, and ridiculing (laughter) a child.
Emotional Abuse
• Emotional abuse includes the failure of a
caregiver to provide an appropriate and
supportive environment, and includes acts that
have an adverse effect on the emotional health
and development of a child.

• Such acts include restricting a child’s


movements, denigration, ridicule, threats and
intimidation, discrimination, rejection and other
nonphysical forms of hostile treatment.
Neglect
• Neglect refers to the failure of a parent to
provide for the development of the child – where
the parent is in a position to do so – in one or
more of the following areas: health, education,
emotional development, nutrition, shelter and
safe living conditions.

• Neglect is thus distinguished from circumstances


of poverty in that neglect can occur only in cases
where reasonable resources are available to the
family or caregiver.
Cont…...
• 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.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Child sexual abuse is the exploitation of a child


for the sexual gratification of another person.
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
• substance Abuse
• Suicidal thoughts and/or depression
• Chronic somatic problems such as stomach aches,
vomiting, or headaches.
• Affectionless or overly affectionate
Cont…
• Aggressive behaviors at school or toward
siblings, possessions, or pets
• 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
Three Major Components
of Child Abuse

Child
+
Care Giver
+
Stress
=
Child Abuse
Who are at Risk

-Abuse most common in children < 1 yr. old


-Girls more frequently abused at older age vs.
boys
Common Features of Successful Child Abuse
Prevention Programs
• Strengthen family and community connections and support.
• Treat parents as vital contributors to their children's growth and
development.
• Create opportunities for parents to feel empowered to act on their
own behalf.
• Respect the integrity of the family.
• Establish links with community support systems.
• Provide settings where parents and children can gather, interact,
support and learn from each other.
• Enhance coordination and integration of services needed by families.
• Enhance community awareness of the importance of healthy
parenting practices
Nursing role in prevention of child
abuse
The role of a nurse in child abuse is vital. Nurses
play a crucial part in:
1. Identification: Recognizing signs of abuse or
neglect, such as injuries, behavioral changes, or
poor hygiene.
2. Reporting: Notifying authorities and initiating
investigations, adhering to mandatory reporting
laws.
3. Assessment: Conducting thorough physical and
emotional evaluations, documenting findings,
and collaborating with healthcare teams.
Cont….
4. Support and care: Providing emotional
support, comfort, and medical treatment to
victims.
5. Advocacy: Acting as a voice for the child,
ensuring their needs are addressed and
rights protected.
6. Education: Teaching parents and
caregivers about healthy parenting,
boundaries, and child development.
7. Referral: Connecting families with
resources, services, and support groups.
Cont...
• 9. Prevention: Participating in community
initiatives, promoting awareness, and
educating others about child abuse.
• 10. Collaboration: Working with
interdisciplinary teams, including social
workers, law enforcement, and mental
health professionals.
Thank
you

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