Child maltreatment has been a serious public health problem not just in the United States but globally. Maltreatment is defined as neglect which means failure to provide for a child’s basic physical, educational, or psychological needs. Physical abuse such as causing physical harm, sexual abuse, abuse that includes fondling a child’s genitals or breasts, and psychological abuse, such as verbal put-downs and other behavior that terrorizes, threatens, rejects or isolates the child. “According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), in 2007 approximately 794,000 children (10.6 per 1,000 children of all ages) were identified as victims of child abuse or neglect. Approximately one-half (46.1%) of all victims were non-Hispanic white, 21.7% were African American, and 20.8% were Hispanic. One-third (31.9%) were under the age of 4 years.” (Gross, 2010)
Child maltreatment has a negative effect on health and it can cause stress that disrupts early brain development. Extreme stress can harm the development of the nervous and immune systems. As a result, children who are abused or neglected are at higher risk for health problems as adults. These problems include alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, high-risk sexual behaviors, smoking, suicide, and certain chronic diseases such a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). MRI scans indicate that maltreated children suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder have significantly smaller brains
Child abuse is epidemic in many countries as well as the United States. It is estimated that every thirteen seconds a child is abused in some manner: physically, sexually, emotionally or by neglect (Friedman). Each year, there are over 3 million reports of child abuse in the United States involving more than 6 million children. Child abuse can be reduced with proper education of the parents and with greater public awareness.
The National Children 's Alliance reported that the number of unique cases of abused and neglected children in the United States stands at an annual rate of 700,000 and rising (as cited in ?U.S. Department of Health & Human Services,? 2016, p. ii). Sadly, this means that more than 1,900 new children become victims of abuse and neglect with each passing day. Neglect was the type of
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 3.3 million referrals for alleged maltreatment were made in 2013. Out of the 3.3 million referrals, 899,000 children were officially documented as being maltreated(Child Abuse & Neglect 2015). Child abuse is the mistreatment of a child. Child abuse is recognized in several forms; physical, emotional, sexual and neglect. Children who experience any form of abuse will tend to withdraw themselves from their peers and sometimes from other family members who are not aware of what is taking place. Child abuse occurs not just in the homes of these children, but can also occur in schools, churches and after school programs. Anywhere a child is present there is a chance that abuse can
Children can be victims of different types of maltreatment such as neglect, medical abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse (Maschi, Bradley, & Ward, 2009). “On average, nationally, there is a report of child maltreatment every 5 seconds, and child maltreatment is substantiated every
Within the United States, child maltreatment is becoming more and more commonly reported as there is over 3 million reports each year. Due to the constant increase of child maltreatment reports, society has become more aware of the issue, which has led to awareness campaigns. (Payne, 87). Even with societies’ knowledge of such abuse there are still serval child maltreatment cases that are not reported. The children that are victims of maltreatment pertains any sort of harm to the child whether it is by injury, neglect, physical, emotional, or even sexual abuse by someone who holds a major role in the child’s life, a parent or guardian figure (“What is Child Abuse”).
Child Maltreatment continues to be a pressing issue throughout the United States. Over the years many children are victims of some type of maltreatment which in some cases can lead to fatalities. Maltreatment can have a negative impact on children and can leave numerous physical and psychological scars affecting the child’s adjustment not only at the time of abuse, but also into their young
The current problem is the continued rise in child abuse and neglect today. Within the United States, the problem of child abuse and neglect is far much common than most people would like to admit. Sanchez (2012) stated that child maltreatment is a global epidemic and a major social problem in the United States resulting in at least 740, 000 visits to hospital emergency departments and more than $124 in child welfare, criminal justice, and health care. Norman, Byambaa, De, Butchart, Scott, and Vos (2012) also observed that child abuse and neglect is a global problem that is mostly perpetrated by parental guardians and parents. Sexual abuse is the infringement of a child’s
Child Maltreatment is still a problem plaguing children today, including children with disabilities, as it is a leading cause of serious childhood injuries and fatalities (Hibbard & Desch, 2007).Child maltreatment affects millions of children each year. In 2015, child protective service agencies received an estimated 4 million referrals involving approximately 7.2 million children and it was estimated that 683,000 of those children were victims of child maltreatment (U.S., 2017). Child maltreatment
Child maltreatment is characterized as “all intentional harm to, or avoidable endangerment of, anyone under 18 years of age” (Berger, 2014, pp. 236). Subtypes of child maltreatment includes child abuse (intentional harm inflicted on a child physically, emotionally, or sexually) and child neglect (failure to provide physical, educational or emotional needs) (Berger, 2014). Lower socioeconomic status (SES) and dysfunctional families can increases the risk for child maltreatment (Harpur, Polek, & van Harmelen, 2015). Additional circumstances that can increase the risk for child maltreatment is low maternal education, single-parenthood, non-biological caregivers, and parental substance abuse (Harpur et al, 2015). In 2012, in the United States,
Its prevalence in children is currently at 20.7%, lower than physical abuse but, higher than emotional abuse. It has been found that women who were sexually abused as children have a diminished brain volume when seen on a scan and also have more difficulty managing and creating healthy relationships. In victims of child abuse it has also been found that the structure of the hippocampus is altered; this structure is involved in learning and memory. Those who are sexually abused have a more perceived stress response, as a long term effect this can cause issues with immune function, the brain’s natural response to stress and they way the brain copes. Although PTSD (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder) is commonly used in reference to those who have served in the armed forces, PTSD can also occur in those who have been abused, especially those who have been abused sexually. Even in young children, depression can occur after a traumatic experience. Depression is a million things in itself, it is not the occasional feeling of sadness. It can be the feeling of hopelessness, loss of energy or interest in things once loved, or unexplainable crying. Depression can alter the way someone thinks or acts. Victims of sexual abuse often “check themselves out” and lack self-esteem. This behavior is known as dissociation, it has the power to take away someones’s ability
The Journal of the American Professional on the Abuse of Children – peer review answers the urgent need for an interdisciplinary forum on child abuse and neglect. Child maltreatment expands its knowledge base through a multidisciplinary while embracing diverse professional and cultural identities (APSAC,2017). Nevertheless, child maltreatment provides a meeting place for professionals and policy makers from many disciplines.
Child abuse is considered socially unacceptable, unfortunately it happens every day. The effects from childhood maltreatment are long lasting and potentially life threatening. Childhood maltreatment is an act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or other care giver that results in harm, potential for harm, or threat of harm to a child (Saha, 2012, p. 213). Child abuse acts are committed behind closed doors and lack the necessary attention they need to be prevented. Research has shown that the acts of abuse do not stop behind closed doors. Maltreatment of a child causes effects such as; relationship violence, suicidal behaviors, and repercussions to the brains structure and function.
The threatening and stressful nature of maltreatment during childhood alters the physiological makeup in the brain, particularly the neural mechanisms related to memory processing and storage (Cicchetti, Rogosch, Howe, & Toth, 2010). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) define child maltreatment as an act or series of acts by a primary caregiver that results in harm to a child, and it
Roughly 1.4 million children living in the United States, which weighs between 2 and 3 percent of the population under 18, experience some form of child maltreatment a year (Wissow, 1995). All in all, child maltreatment is the intentional harm or threat of harm to a child. Yet, child maltreatment can easily be broken into the categories of child abuse and child neglect (Simons, Simons & Wallace, 2004). Moreover, this essay will focus on child abuse which singles in on physical injury or threat by the child’s caretaker.
Child abuse can have lasting negative effects on the child; mentally, physically and emotionally. Child abuse is defined as; the recurrent infliction of physical, or emotional injury on a dependent minor, through the intentional beatings, uncontrolled corporal punishment, persistent ridicule and degradation, or sexual abuse committed by parents or guardian. The victims of child mistreatment experience abuse by their parent and/or guardian and family member. Many factors can contribute to child abuse but it is never justifiable. Punishment can sometimes lead to the abuse of infants and children, (Ciccheti, 2011, 2013). A history of abuse in the family and the parent’s unresolved issues may arise if the parent is harboring the pain from what they experienced. Poverty and low socioeconomic status can also contribute to abuse. Unfortunately, a blind eye is turned against the perpetrators because of denial or fear of what could have to the child or offender. The abuser will threaten or instill fear in the