The Causes and Effects of Child Neglect Essay

Child abuse and neglect is a big problem in the United States. Child abuse is sexual, physical, emotional, and even verbal maltreatment towards the children. When food, clothing, and shelter is not provided this is termed neglect. Many children in the United States are abused and neglected by parents, grandparents, guardians, and friends of the family. Many children suffer abuse such as beating, starved,

With neglect the child may become delinquent, turn to alcohol/drugs, steal, or develop neurotic traits like sleeping disorders. They may also exhibit extreme behavior patterns like infantile or adult like behavior. Some indicators of neglect may be consistent hunger, poor hygiene, truancy, abandonment, and a lack of physical development.

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

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

The United States has been fighting the war against child abuse since the first case of child abuse in 1874 that included a child being beaten and chained against her will (Meadows, 2014). Many people hear the words child abuse and think of physical abuse. While, many people are correct in thinking of physical abuse, an “Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE)” study done by the CDC shows that although physical abuse is the leading form of child abuse, emotional or psychological abuse is the second leading form of child abuse (2014). Although one would think sexual abuse along with physical abuse would be the prominent form of abuse, this is not the case. One of the major reasons emotional neglect is more prominent than sexual abuse is due to the fact that emotional abuse is not being overlooked as often as it used to. In fact, it is now being seen as the gateway to physical and sexual abuse (Garbarino, Guttman, & Seeley, 1988). The amounts of consequences that come from being abused as a child are countless as well as life changing, some of these life-changing effects were identified by the CDC as drug abuse, sexual transmitted diseases, suicidal thoughts, and difficulty learning (2014).

Child abuse and neglect is a significant problem in the United States that should demand direct attention. There are approximately three million child abuse reports made each year, and these reports involve more than six million children. Out of four to five children that die daily, 70 percent are under three years of age. There are 90 percent of cases involving of children who know who know their perpetrator. The main factors of child abuse are physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. In many cases involving sexual abuse, there is usually not any medical evidence to be shown, and there are usually not any witness due to the sexual acts taking place in private places. That is why it is considered the “hidden” form of abuse. Neglect is a type of maltreatment related to the failure to provide needed, age-appropriate care.

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)

In the US alone nearly “3 million children experience some form of maltreatment” (Spinazzola, Hidgdon, Ford, Briggs, Liang, Layne, Pynoos, Stolbach, Kisiel, 2014 p. S19). The maltreatment of children is an issue that is happening around the world. Most people think about physical abuse being the most common form of maltreatment; however, emotional abuse accounts for “36%” ( Spinazzola et al 2014 p. S19) , and emotional neglect accounts for “52%”(Spinazzola et al 2014 p. S19) of identified child maltreatment cases. Most studies look at how abuse and neglect impacts children in many emotional and behavioral ways; meanwhile, nothing is changing when it comes to their recovery. Most maltreated children will

This paper discusses several articles, as well as some college texts, that define and illuminate the four main types of child abuse that exist within the United States. It also discusses some of the effects of abuse and attempts to offer some solutions for this very prevalent societal problem. The definitions of child abuse and neglect vary, based on the context in which they have been studied. Some studies suggest that neglect is the most prevalent type of child abuse in this country. Kaplan, Schene, DePanfilis, and Gilmore assert that neglect becomes chronic when its occurrence is not only ongoing, but seriously deprives a child of basic physical, developmental, and/or emotional needs by someone who cares for them. Whatever

Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) states “the domains of child maltreatment include both child abuse (wilful acts such as physical, sexual and emotional abuse which harm a child) and neglect (failure to provide for a child’s basic needs) (Fontes, 2005)” (Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura 2015, p. 3). These areas will have a life-altering impact on a child’s life and it might change how they view people and things around them. Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) states “neglect, as a form of child maltreatment, can take many forms such as failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision, medical care, emotional care or education” ((Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura 2015, p. 3). Neglect is also big issue just as Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) mentioned, not giving a sufficient amount of food, not providing them with emotional support or proper education or medical care could put a child in this category. Therefore, simply providing a child with their basic needs can solve the problem, although not everyone can afford this basic needs because of life’s situations. Situation like poverty, lack of work, and others can cause this to happen. This is why Tufford, Bogo, & Asakura (2015) also states that “Child Neglect can often be confounded by poverty, inadequate housing and dangerous neighbourhoods as parents or caretakers have fewer resources to provide children with the care they need (Jonson-Reid, Drake, & Zhou, 2013)” ((Tufford, Bogo, &

The Working Together to Safeguard Children report (2013) defines neglect as persistent failings to meet a child's basic physical and psychological needs, for which could result in the serious consequences of the child's health. In essence, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:

There are many forms of abuse and neglect. One that stands out to me is child abuse. There are several forms of child abuse, some rarer than others. The reasoning behind child abuse is intriguing to me. Why and how can someone abuse a child? Mental health of the abuser plays a big role in how and why people do the things they do. A mental health issue contributing to child abuse is Munchhausen syndrome by proxy. (MSpB) Munchhausen syndrome by proxy symptoms are varied, almost always characterized by a caretaker, usually the mom, creating symptoms in someone they care for. (Gross, 2008)

Child Maltreatment, a general term for both child abuse and neglect, is one of the most shocking and leading problems in the United States. The federal government defined child abuse and neglect in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) as “physical and mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child’s health or welfare” (Springer, Sheridan, Kuo, & Carnes, n.d).

“Child neglect is the most prevalent, but least empirically studied, form of child maltreatment” (De Bellis, 2005). Perhaps because is lacks the obvious physical effects present with abuse, it is often overshadowed. Neglect can be defined as, “the failure by the caregiver to provide needed age appropriate care,” that addresses the child’s physical

Every year, child abuse and neglect affect more than one million children nation-wide (Currie and Tekin 1). Along with this, child abuse is the source of severe injury to more than 500,000 children and the death of over 1,500 children (Currie and Tekin 1). These outrageously large numbers reveal the extent to which child abuse and neglect impact society; however, they do not acknowledge the effect abuse can have on a child’s life and the repercussions that may occur in both the individual’s childhood and adulthood. While the effects most certainly include physical pain and possibly future disabilities, child abuse and neglect can also affects the child’s psychological welfare. Psychological effects are often more difficult to recognize,