The Four Types Of Child Abuse

Child abuse is when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child. There are many forms of child maltreatment, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation and emotional abuse.

There are four different types of child abuse:

. physical abuse

. sexual abuse

. emotional abuse

. neglect

Child abuse can be a single incident, or can be a number of different incidents that take place over time.

Under the Child Protection Act 1999, it does not matter how much a child is harmed, but whether a child:

 has suffered harm, is suffering harm, or is at risk of suffering harm

 doesnot have a parent able and willing to protect them from harm.

Harm is

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

Basic needs include:

 food

 housing

 health care

 adequate clothing

 personal hygiene

 hygienic living conditions

 timely provision of medical treatment

 adequate supervision.

EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE:

Child abuse can result in immediate adverse physical effects but it is also strongly associated with development problems and with many chronic physical and psychological effects, including subsequent ill-health, including higher rates of chronic conditions, high-risk health behaviors and shortened lifespan.

EMOTIONAL EFFECTS

Due to child abuse a child can be effected by various types of emotional effects. Children who are constantly ignored, shamed, terrorized or humiliated suffer at least as much, if not more, than if they are physically assaulted. The effects of abused children can also differ when it comes to babies and young children. Children can also experience reactive attachment disorder (RAD). RAD is defined as markedly disturbed and developmentally inappropriate social relatedness, that usually begins before the age of 5 years. RAD can present as a persistent failure to start or respond in a developmentally appropriate fashion to most social situations. The long-term impact of emotional abuse has not been studied widely,