CHILD ABUSE

PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION

Expressions India
WHAT TO DO?

I asked you for help, and you told me you would

if I told you the things, he did to me.
You asked me to trust you, and you made me
repeat them to fourteen different strangers

I asked you for help and you gave me

a doctor with cold hands
Just like my father.

I asked you for protection

and you gave me a social worker.
Do you know what it is like?
To have more social workers than friends?
I asked you for help
and you forced my mother to choose between us.
She chose him, of course.
She was scared, she had a lot to lose.
I had a lot to lose too.
The difference is, you never told me how much.
I asked you to put an end to the… abuse
You put an end to my whole family.
You took away my nights of hell
and gave me days of hell instead.
You have changed my private nightmare
Into a very public one.
—A fourteen-year-old girl
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 Introduction and Background

Defining Child Abuse

As defined by WHO (1999), “Child Abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or
emotional ill treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to
the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility,
trust or power”.
Child abuse is a universal and alarming problem. Increased attention and efficient protection skills
and preventive measures are necessary at family, social, national and international levels. After being a
closed room affair for decades, child abuse is being more and more denounced and becoming a public
and political topic.
Types of Child Abuse
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse of a child is the inflicting of physical injury upon a child. It may include burning, hitting,
punching, kicking, beating, or otherwise harming the child.
Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully
comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally
prepared and cannot give consent, or that violates the laws or social taboos of society.
Neglect and Negligent Treatment
Neglect is the failure to provide for the child’s basic needs. Neglect can be physical, educational or
emotional. It may also include abandonment.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse, is also known as verbal abuse, mental abuse, and psychological maltreatment. It includes the
failure to provide a developmentally appropriate supportive environment, so that the child can develop a stable
and full range of emotional and social competencies and in the context of the society in which the child dwells.

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 Risk Factors for Child Abuse

 High crime rate

 Lack of or few social services
Community Related
 High poverty rate
 High unemployment rate

 Weak child
Child Related  Sick child
 Handicapped child
 Emotional child

 Personal history of physical or sexual abuse as a child

 Teenage/Single parent
 Emotional immaturity
 Poor coping skills
 Low self-esteem
Parent Related  Lack of social support
 Domestic violence
 Lack of parenting skills
 History of depression or other mental health problems
 Multiple young children
 Unwanted and/or denial of pregnancy

Child abuse is a ruthless combination of sexual abuse, of emotional abuse and of physical abuse. The
child victim of abuse may show a cluster of physical, behavioural and emotional changes listed below:

Physical Signs Behavioural Changes Emo onal Changes

 Bite marks  Avoids physical contact  Apprehensive when other

 Unusual bruises with others children cry
 Lacerations  Avoids certain adults  Depression, anxiety
 Burns  Wears clothing to purposely  Seems frightened
 High incidence of accidents or conceal injury, i.e. long sleeves by parents
frequent injuries like swellings on  Gives inconsistent versions  Has difficulty getting along
face and extremities about occurrence of injuries, with others
 Discoloration of skin burns, etc.  Deep sense of isolation
 Sleep, speech disorders  Often late or absent  Little respect for others
 Complaints of pain upon movement from school  Overly compliant, shy,
or contact  Comes early to school, seems passive, withdrawn, gives
 Bedwetting reluctant to go home in readily
 Recurrent abdominal pain afterwards,  Plays aggressively, often
 Constant throat and urinary negative statements about self hurting peers
infections  Lack of concentration
 Irritation in throat and in anal in school
and genital areas  Compulsions, obsessions,
 Sexually transmitted diseases phobias, hysterical reactions

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 Role of Teachers and Counsellors
To assess the psychological, social, physical and medical impact of abuse on the child and its family
To consider the current and rehabilitation needs of that child
To understand that it is best to listen to the child and consider the child’s needs prior to taking any
precipitate action
Response of Teachers and Counsellors
Communicate your understanding to the child by taking seriously what the child is saying
Assure the child that they did the right thing by telling you.
Tell the child that they are not to blame for sexual abuse.
Encourage the child to participate in games to remove feeling of isolation.
Do not make false promises to the child.
Never imply that the child should forgive and forget the abuser in order to heal.
Protect the child and reassure them that you will promptly take steps to see that the abuse stops.
Don’t hesitate in reporting such matters to the police.
Consult with the family physician immediately.
Take the child for psychiatric evaluation.

Consequences of Child Abuse

Every child is vulnerable, dependent, innocent and needy, be it a boy or girl. So when they are sexually
abused, there is almost simultaneously, violation of physical, emotional and mental state forcing the
child to struggle through the survival cycle.

Faulty trapped feelings

Confusion Self-estrangement

A vicious cycle sets in as the child feels shameful each time he/she recalls the abuse. The child experiences
a sense of helplessness/powerlessness. The child with his/her feelings all locked up, grows up physically
and displaces some of the sleeper effects of child abuse, which then have long-term consequences.
Preventive Measures Parents and Teachers Can Take
Remember that child abuse is a crime in which the fact is known only to the abuser and abused,
where the abuser enjoys the advantage of age, relationship and prestige.
Establish a free atmosphere at home that encourages children to disclose anything and everything.
In simple language, initiate the child’s understanding of his/her own body and explain child abuse
to the child without misleading him.
Teach the child the difference between ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’.
Do not force the child to hug and kiss others, if he/she is uncomfortable.
Teach them not to go near strangers or being friendly with them, even if they offer gifts or chocolates.
Be familiar with your child’s friends and daily activities.
Initiate an understanding in the neighbourhood children to keep an eye on one another.
Have faith in all what your child tells you and be alert to small changes in his/her behaviour.
Be observant of any child/adult paying unusual attention or affection to your child.
Equip your child with emergency telephone numbers.

Developed by
Expressions India - The National Life Skills, Values Education, School Wellness Program
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