Child abuse is a serious problem that unfortunately affects millions of children around the world. We need to understand the various forms of abuse and neglect that exist, what their possible effects are on the physical, emotional and mental health of minors, to prevent it. This is why in this article we will tell you what is meant by child abuse, the different types of child abuse, the short and long-term consequences that victims can suffer, and how to prevent it to protect our little ones.

What is child abuse?

What is understood as child abuse is any form of abuse or neglect that affects a minor under 18 years of age. The term “child abuse” encompasses a wide range of harmful behaviors, including physical and emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and commercial exploitation. All of these acts can harm the health, development and dignity of the child, or even endanger their survival.

Finally, child abuse always occurs in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, where the adult or caregiver fails to protect the child and, instead, inflicts harm or suffering.

Types of child abuse

There is no single form of child abuse; this term covers a wide range of behaviors and actions, which can be classified into the following types:

Physical abuse

As its name indicates, it involves any physical aggression that puts the integrity of the child at risk, including hitting, kicking, burning, and any other form of violence that causes physical harm.

Sexual abuse

It encompasses any sexual activity with a boy or girl, including exposure to pornographic material, sexual intercourse and inappropriate touching.

Psychological abuse

Psychological abuse occurs through verbal attacks and behaviors that damage the child's self-esteem and emotional well-being, such as continuous reprimands, emotional ignorance, and social isolation. This type of abuse can be as harmful as physical abuse, affecting the emotional and mental development of the child.

Medical abuse

It occurs when a person provides false information about a child's health, resulting in unnecessary and potentially harmful medical interventions. This form of abuse endangers the physical integrity of the minor due to erroneous treatments or diagnoses, as well as their psycho-emotional health by subjecting them to stress and anguish on a continuous basis.

Abandonment

A child suffers abandonment when basic needs such as food, shelter, affection, education or medical care are not provided. Abandonment can be physical or emotional and has a negative impact on the development and survival of the child.

Symptoms of child abuse

Identifying child abuse is not always as easy as you might think, as children often feel guilt, shame or confusion, and may be afraid to talk about their situation, especially if the perpetrator is a parent, close family member or friend. Family's friend. Therefore, it is crucial to pay attention to the warning signs, which could be:

• Withdrawal from friends or usual activities: A child who suddenly withdraws from friends or stops participating in activities he or she previously enjoyed.
• Behavioral changes: Aggression, anger, hostility or hyperactivity, along with changes in school performance, are indicative that something may be wrong.
• Depression, anxiety or unusual fears: The sudden loss of self-confidence, the appearance of unusual fears or the manifestation of anxiety and depression.
• Sleep problems and nightmares: Sleep disorders, such as difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares, are indicative of stress or trauma.
• Apparent lack of supervision: Neglect, manifested through an apparent lack of supervision, a child who is always alone, visually dirty or always sick.
• Frequent absences from school: Repeated absences from school can be a sign of problems at home, including abuse or neglect.
• Rebellious or defiant behavior: Rebellious or defiant behavior is often a response to emotional distress and may be an indication that the child is trying to cope with an abusive situation.
• Self-harm or suicide attempts: Self-harm or suicide attempts are especially alarming signs that a child is in extreme emotional pain and needs immediate help.

Consequences of child abuse

Child abuse has serious physical, sexual and psychological consequences both in the short and long term, but we explain it better below:

Physical consequences

The physical consequences of child abuse are practically endless. Abused children often suffer severe injuries such as head trauma and severe disabilities, especially in the youngest children. If there was also sexual violence, there is a risk of sexually transmitted infections, gynecological disorders and unwanted pregnancies.

Psychological consequences

Children who have been abused are prone to developing post-traumatic stress oppositional defiant disorder in children, anxiety and depression, among other psychological disorders. These problems tend to persist throughout life, affecting their long-term emotional and mental well-being, preventing them from even leading a normal life.

Impact on cognitive and academic performance

Abused children often have difficulty in school, more specifically, lower academic performance and a greater likelihood of dropping out of school. In addition, there is a strong relationship between child abuse and the abuse of substances such as alcohol, drugs and tobacco, the abuse of these substances often ends up resulting in dropping out of school,

Stress and brain development

Childhood grief abuse generates such high stress that it can disrupt early brain development. Under conditions of extreme stress, the development of the nervous and immune systems is severely affected and as a result, adults who suffered abuse as children are at greater risk of developing physical, psychological and behavioral problems. Among these problems we can find the propensity to commit acts of violence, both as perpetrators and victims, depression, smoking, obesity, high-risk sexual behaviors and the harmful use of alcohol and drugs.

Examples of child abuse

Child abuse can occur in multiple forms, all with a significant impact on the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of the minor who suffers it. So that you understand better, we leave you some clear examples of child abuse:

Physical abuse

• Hitting, kicking, pushing or any other type of physical aggression that causes visible injuries such as bruises, fractures or burns.
• Violently shaking a baby, even causing shaken baby syndrome, resulting in permanent brain damage or death.

Sexual abuse

• Forcing a child to engage in sexual activities, including inappropriate touching, rape, or sexual exploitation.
• Expose a child to pornographic content or use it to create such material.

Psychological abuse

• Constantly insulting, humiliating or threatening a child, damaging their self-esteem and sense of security.
• Emotionally ignoring the child, refusing to interact or acknowledge his or her emotional needs.

Medical abuse

• Fabricating symptoms of illness in a child (Munchausen syndrome by proxy), leading them to receive unnecessary and potentially dangerous medical treatments.
• Failure to provide necessary medical care for illnesses or injuries.

Abandonment

• Leaving the child alone for long periods without adequate supervision, exposing him to physical risks and making him feel abandoned.
• Failure to provide basic needs such as food, shelter, adequate clothing, or medical care.

Commercial exploitation

• Using a child for forced labor, depriving him of his right to education and a proper childhood.
• Child trafficking, where children are sold or used for illicit labor or sexual exploitation.

How to prevent child abuse?

Preventing and responding to child abuse requires a multisectoral approach, involving both different sectors and different people. In addition to this, the ideal would be to intervene as soon as possible in the life of the minor, in order to stop and prevent any type of consequence. Now, more specifically what we can do to prevent child abuse is:

Support parents and carers

Offer information and training sessions to promote loving and non-violent parenting which can be delivered at home or in the community by health professionals, social workers or appropriately trained people.

Training and preparation for life

Increase enrollment in quality education that provides children with knowledge, practical skills and experiences that strengthen their resilience and reduce risk factors for violence. Within the educational field, implement sexual abuse prevention programs to raise awareness among children and adolescents, teaching them about consent, prevention of abuse, sexual exploitation, and how to ask for help.

Generate a positive school climate

Help create a school environment without violence that strengthens relationships between students, teachers and administration. This includes interventions aimed at fostering a positive reinforcement and safe environment in schools.

Work on norms and values

Develop programs that transform restrictive and harmful social and gender norms related to parenting style, child discipline, and gender equality. Within these programs there must also be actions that promote the nurturing and protective role of parents.

Application and compliance with laws

Enact and enforce laws that prohibit violent punishment and protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation. Legislation must be robust and effectively applied if we want to guarantee the protection of minors.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, there is no doubt that child abuse is a complex and devastating problem that requires urgent and coordinated action from us as a society as a whole. It is essential that parents, caregivers, educators, health professionals and policymakers come together to create safe environments where all children can grow and develop fully. Of course, efforts must be continuous and effective in order to create a future where no child has to experience abuse.