Recognizing and preventing child abuse
As parents, our job is to protect our children from harm. It can be hard to imagine anyone hurting a child, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1 in 7 children in the U.S. experiences some form of abuse or neglect each year. Jennifer Sabo, MD, explained how to recognize child abuse and provided tips on how to prevent it.
What is child abuse?
Child abuse is when something is done to a child that causes harm or has the potential to cause harm. It comes in different forms and within each form it varies in its severity along a spectrum. Dr. Sabo said there are different types of child abuse, including:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
“Abuse can present itself in different ways. It may look like a bruised arm, a broken bone or it may be the use of words to psychologically harm a child,” said Dr. Sabo.
What is child neglect?
Child neglect occurs when something is withheld from a child that causes harm or has the potential to cause harm to a child. Things that can be withheld from a child that cause harm include:
- Medical care
- Education
- Basic physical needs
- Supervision
- Food
- Words or actions that promote a child’s psychological development
How can you prevent child abuse?
Learn how to recognize signs of child abuse and neglect. Dr. Sabo said recognizing abuse requires having a view of the world that may be uncomfortable for most individuals. The most important part is believing that child abuse occurs. It occurs in every group of human beings and is not limited. The most frequent abusers of children are family members although it can be anyone.
“You have to understand that it can happen in your neighborhood, school, religious organization and family. Once it is understood that child abuse occurs, then paying attention to how children interact with adults, what adults say or post online about their family, what children mention about their home and family, how children are dressed and any injuries on children can help to identify when abuse occurs,” said Dr. Sabo.
Unexplained injuries aren’t the only signs of abuse. Other signs include:
- Depression or anxiety
- Fear of a certain adult
- Difficulty trusting others or making friends
- Sudden changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- Poor hygiene
- Acting out or aggression
Self-destructive behaviors can be signs of family problems and may indicate a child is being neglected or physically, sexually, or emotionally abused.
Remember, children and families may think that how they are living is normal and sometimes it takes someone else speaking up to help break the cycles of abuse and neglect.
Encourage open communication within your own family. “Fostering a trusting, open relationship with your child is key. Your child needs to know that in your family no one keeps secrets. There is nothing a child should keep from their parents, and anyone who asks a child to keep a secret is doing something wrong. Having open and frequent communication with your child keeps them safe,” said Dr. Sabo.
Although you don’t want to frighten your child, you can teach some basic rules of safety in a non-threatening manner. Teach them to keep their distance from strangers, not to wander away from you in unfamiliar territory, to say “no” when someone asks them to do something they don’t want to do. Teach them to always tell you if someone hurts them or makes them feel bad, even if that person is someone they know.
Know what resources are available in your area. Trusted and caring family friends and neighbors can provide support to parents and families by offering them encouragement and assistance as they face the daily challenges of raising a family. Simple support for children and parents in times of stress can be the best way to prevent child abuse. A helpful resource for families for a wide variety of needs is http://scparents.org.
Dr. Sabo said areas that can put stress on families include:
- Unstable housing
- Food insecurity
- Lack of financial resources
- Difficulty accessing medical care
- Lack of mental health resources
- Sparse support system for parents or caregivers
Report your concerns. If you need help or suspect that your child or another child has suffered abuse, report it to the Department of Social Services and law enforcement. You can seek medical care for any injuries at an emergency room or pediatrician. “While a pediatrician can help provide guidance, ultimately an agency tasked with the protection of children needs to explore your concerns so that children can grow up safe and healthy,” said Dr. Sabo.
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