What is child abuse?
Although there are many formal
and acceptable definitions of child abuse, the following
is offered as a guide. Child abuse consists of any act of
commission or omission that endangers or impairs a
child's physical or emotional health and development.
Child abuse includes any damage done to a child which
cannot be reasonably explained and which is often
represented by an injury or series of injuries appearing
to be non-accidental in nature.
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Major forms
of child abuse
Physical abuse -
Any non-accidental injury to a child. This includes
hitting, kicking, slapping, shaking, burning, pinching,
hair pulling, biting, choking, throwing, shoving,
whipping, and paddling.
Emotional abuse
- Any attitude or behavior, which interferes with a
child's mental health or social development. This
includes yelling, screaming, name-calling, shaming,
negative comparisons to others, telling them they are
"bad, no good, worthless" or "a
mistake".
Neglect - Physical
- Failure to provide for a child's physical needs. This
includes lack of supervision, inappropriate housing or
shelter, inadequate provision of food, inappropriate
clothing for season or weather, abandonment, denial of
medical care, and inadequate hygiene.
Neglect - Emotional
- Failure to provide affection and support necessary for
the development of emotional, social, physical and
intellectual well being of a child. This includes
ignoring, lack of appropriate physical affection (hugs),
not saying "I love you," withdrawal of
attention, lack of praise, lack of positive
reinforcement.
Sexual abuse -
Any sexual act between an adult and child. This includes
fondling, penetration, intercourse, exploitation,
pornography, exhibitionism, child prostitution, group
sex, oral sex, or forced observation of sexual acts.
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