Child abuse Essay Example

basic needs, identifying problems related to substance abuse and spouse abuse, as well as educating them about child behavior, discipline, safety, and development. Primary prevention aims to stop diseases from happening and reduce their frequency. When it comes to child abuse, primary prevention interventions aim to prevent its occurrence (Hay, 1996). The United States saw a 50 percent increase in child abuse cases between 1985 and 1993. In 1993 alone, three million children were reported as victims of abuse in the United States. Among these cases, thirty-five percent were confirmed instances of child abuse.

Improving reporting methods could lead to a significant increase in the number of child abuse cases confirmed by child protection agencies, according to data from various reporting sources. It is important to note that the absence of verification does not mean that abuse did not happen, but rather that it could not be verified. The statistics show that approximately 160,000 children experience severe or life-threatening injuries each year due to abuse, with 1,000 to 2,000 of them losing their lives. Among these fatalities, 80% involve children under five years old and 40% involve children under one year old. Shockingly, one out of every 20 murder victims is a child.

Murder is a leading cause of death in children aged one to fourteen. Within the first 24 hours of life, neonaticide accounts for 45% of infant deaths in their first year (Lewitt, 1997). It should be noted that accurate reporting of abuse-related deaths is often lacking, as some incidents labeled as accidents or sudden infant death syndrome may actually be instances of child abuse. Conducting more thorough investigations could potentially result in reclassifying these

deaths. It is disheartening to know that the majority of child abuse occurs within the home, committed by individuals whom the child knows and trusts.

Although there is a lot of media attention on abuse in day-care and foster-care settings, it actually makes up only a small portion of confirmed child abuse cases. In 1996, these settings accounted for just two percent of all cases. However, if there is spousal abuse present, the chances of child abuse increase significantly by fifteen times compared to households without spousal abuse. Additionally, fathers are three times more likely than mothers to be responsible for child abuse. The occurrence of child abuse is consistent across both rural and urban areas. The following statistics provide further information on different types of abuse.

• Neglect - 54%
• Physical abuse - 25%
• Sexual abuse - 11%
• Emotional abuse - 3%
• Other - 7% (Davis, 1998)

Child abuse not only inflicts physical and psychological harm on children but also has lasting consequences. These include delays in development, refusal to attend school, anxiety disorders related to separation, increased likelihood of substance abuse, aggressive behaviors, engagement in high-risk health behaviors, involvement in criminal activity, depressive and affective disorders, personality disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks, schizophrenia, and perpetration of abuse against their own children and spouse. Davis (1998) emphasizes the significance of creating a nurturing and stimulating environment during a child's first three years for optimal brain development. Recent research conducted by the National Research Council's Panel on Research on Child Abuse and Neglect has made substantial progress in comprehending the underlying causes of child abuse beyond simplistic cause-and-effect

patterns.

According to the panel, simple cause and effect patterns have limitations in regards to their narrow focus on parents. These patterns only consider the personal characteristics that may lead parents to abuse their children, disregarding the occurrence of multiple forms of abuse in one child. Additionally, these patterns provide little explanation when evaluating the significance of different risk factors associated with child abuse.

The panel has introduced a new eco-friendly model to replace an old static pattern. This model perceives child abuse as a complex interactive process, recognizing that it stems from different factors. It categorizes child abuse as a system with risk and protective elements at four levels: individual, family, community, and society.

There are certain factors that are closely linked to different types of abuse. In our society, it can be argued that there is a lack of true prioritization of children, as shown by the 25% of children in the United States who experience poverty and lack healthcare access. Furthermore, child abuse is believed to be influenced by the high occurrence of violence in our society. Compared to seventeen other developed countries, the United States has higher rates of lethal violence, and domestic incidents account for 75% of this violence.

According to McKay (1997), the United States has the highest rates of homicide for women over 14 and children aged 5 to 14 compared to other developed nations. These high levels of violence are believed to be influenced by exposure to violent television and corporal punishment. Additionally, poverty is consistently identified as the main risk factor for child abuse, with physical abuse and neglect being more prevalent among individuals living in poverty.

Child abuse's causes are

a subject of ongoing debate. Some argue that it stems from the strain of poverty and increased scrutiny by public agencies, which results in excessive reporting. Other factors encompass limited healthcare access and affordability, fragmented social services, and insufficient support from extended families and communities (Besharov, 1990).

Furthermore, parents who experienced abuse themselves during childhood are more prone to perpetuating this cycle with their own children. Inadequate parenting skills, unrealistic expectations regarding a child's capabilities, lack of knowledge about managing behavior or typical child development can also contribute to incidents of child abuse.

Approximately 40% of confirmed cases of child abuse are linked to substance abuse, while approximately 11% of pregnant women engage in substance abuse. This results in around 300,000 infants being born yearly to mothers who misuse crack cocaine. It is important to note that domestic violence increases the likelihood of child abuse (Helfer, 1998).

Risk factors for child abuse include emotional immaturity among parents, which is often seen with teenage parents. Insufficient coping skills are also a risk factor, which can be observed in both younger and older parents. Other factors include low self-esteem and various psychological issues experienced by one or both parents. Additional contributing factors include single parenthood without support from a partner, social isolation from family and friends, lack of support systems, having a handicapped or premature baby, having a sibling younger than 18 months old, unwanted pregnancy or denial of pregnancy by the mother, reported sibling abuse, and general parenting stress.

The United States Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect emphasizes the need for a universal system of early intervention based on caring communities to address the crisis surrounding child abuse

(Besharov, 1990).

Effective child abuse prevention strategies require intervention at all levels of society, but there is no agreement on the specific programs or services to implement. Limited research on child abuse prevention, hindered by the complexity of the problem and challenges in measuring outcomes, has led to a lack of consensus. Additionally, variables that determine future risk of abuse have been neglected. Public and private agencies have implemented various programs, but there is minimal evidence supporting their effectiveness (Rushton, 1997).

In a 1994 review of 1,526 studies on preventing child abuse, only thirty were considered methodologically sound. Out of the eleven studies focused on physical abuse and neglect, only two showed a decrease in child abuse rates. This decline was measured by a reduction in hospital admissions, emergency department visits, or reports to child protective services. While better-designed research is needed to evaluate prevention strategies, current recommendations for preventive interventions are based on our understanding of the causes of child abuse. It is more effective to implement primary prevention strategies that target risk factors with higher predictive value and broad social programs instead of individual-focused actions. This approach also prevents stigmatizing specific individuals or groups. Although various measures have been suggested but not yet tested for preventing child abuse in society, the text emphasizes different strategies to enhance the well-being of children and families.The following strategies aim to alter society's view of children, encourage financial independence in families, strengthen community resources, discourage violence and physical discipline, improve accessibility and affordability of healthcare, enhance substance abuse treatment programs, upgrade mental health treatment options, expand availability of affordable childcare services, and prevent unintended pregnancies through sex education, family

planning, abortion services, anonymous delivery options, and adoption (Rushton, 1997).

Common Features of Successful Child Abuse Prevention Programs

Successful child abuse prevention programs share common features, including a focus on strengthening family and community connections and support. These programs acknowledge the significance of valuing parents as valuable contributors to their children's growth and development. They provide opportunities for parents to feel empowered to take action for themselves and their children. Furthermore, successful prevention programs respect the dignity of each family and aim to improve parents' capacity to foster optimal development in both their children and themselves.

The text suggests the importance of establishing connections with community support systems. It emphasizes creating environments that allow parents and children to come together, interact, support each other, and learn. The goal is to improve the coordination and integration of services that families require. Additionally, the text highlights the significance of raising community awareness about the value of healthy parenting practices. Furthermore, it mentions the necessity of offering parents round-the-clock emergency support.

Strategies aimed at supporting individuals can also be seen as strategies for assisting families. Successful programs to prevent child abuse have the goal of providing parents with support in their role as caregivers. Parents may find it difficult to meet the needs of their children until they have their basic necessities met, such as food, shelter, clothing, safety, and medical care. It is crucial for parents to receive assistance in meeting these fundamental needs first (Rushton, 1997). Once these needs are met, attention can then be given to higher-level needs. The next step should involve identifying and treating parents who struggle with substance abuse or alcohol addiction, as well as identifying

and counseling parents who experience spousal abuse.

Identifying and treating parents with psychological problems is crucial, as is addressing financial concerns, employment issues, and legal problems. Physicians can offer a sympathetic ear and refer parents to appropriate resources, providing significant support. The next level of need involves educating parents on time management, budgeting skills, stress management, coping mechanisms, and parenting skills including appropriate discipline. Parents should also gain knowledge about child development, nutrition, feeding problems, and safety issues (Rushton,
1997).

In the United States, there are various methods for delivering services to families: long-term home visitation; short-term home visitation; early and extended postpartum mother/child contact; rooming in; intensive physician contact; drop-in centers; child classroom education; parent training; and free access to health care.

1. Long-term home visitation, lasting up to two years, is the only proven method for reducing child abuse. It has shown effectiveness through a decrease in hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and reports to child protective services.
2. Many organizations are now utilizing home visitation as a means of preventing child abuse. The objective is to identify family needs and provide necessary services.
3. A study on home visitation revealed improvements in various areas including parents' attitudes towards their children and interactions between parents and children. It also resulted in a decrease in occurrences of child abuse.
4. To deliver the required services, home visitors require a fundamental framework of support services such as healthcare, social services, and childcare (Rushton, 1997).

Strategies for Preventing Child Abuse

Identify pregnancy in unmarried mothers and discuss its implications with them.

The text highlights the importance of assessing the stressors faced by new parents, such as social support, financial situation, martial status, level of education, and number of children. It

suggests identifying families dealing with issues like substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health problems. It also recommends providing services like social workers, long-term home visitation, and parenting classes for new parents. The text emphasizes the significance of educating parents about developmental tasks, age-appropriate anticipatory guidance, nutrition, safety, and discipline, while discouraging corporal punishment. It suggests surveying parents to understand their health concerns and supporting universal healthcare for children. Additionally, it advocates for quality, affordable, and universally accessible child care as well as community respite care for parents. Lastly, it calls for the establishment of community centers to address alcohol and drug treatment, mental health, and spouse and child abuse issues. Overall, the text emphasizes that addressing the needs and challenges faced by parents is crucial in preventing child abuse as parents who have multiple emotional, medical, financial, and social needs often struggle to meet their children's needs (Rushton, 1997).The development of a supportive attitude toward parents is crucial for physicians in order to ultimately assist the children.

The most effective way to prevent child abuse and neglect is by using strategies that assist parents in protecting and nurturing their children. These strategies include providing parents with the necessary support, resources, and skills. The physician should seek assistance from various professionals such as social workers, home health agencies, financial counselors, psychologists, local mental health facilities, alcohol and drug treatment centers, and parenting centers, as needed. The National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse has fifty-two chapters nationwide that take the lead in preventing child abuse (Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect, 1996).

One suggestion mentioned in a source I came across is to establish group parenting classes that cover

topics such as safety, nutrition, feeding, discipline, and child development. It is recommended to split these classes into two groups: one for parents of infants and another for parents of toddlers, as each group has specific needs. To ensure parents are able to attend, it may be necessary to provide child care during these classes. Another suggestion is to involve a physician in order to help prevent child abuse. One idea is to allocate less time for medical examinations of a clearly healthy child and instead focus on discussing psycho social issues with the child's parent.

Here is a list of questions that a physician can ask parents to help assess the risk of child abuse:

• What is it like for you taking care of this baby?
• Who helps you with your children?
• Do you get time to yourself?
• What do you do when the child's behavior drives you crazy?
• Do you have trouble with your child at mealtime or bedtime?
• Are your children in day care?
• How are things between you and your partner? (Rushton, 1998).

If psycho social problems are uncovered, the physician might schedule more frequent visits to allow for further discussions. Other strategies include inviting fathers for an office visit and encouraging the parents to rely on the support of families and friends. It is important to address issues that are of concern to the parents. It is also important

to try to give very specific and concrete suggestions to parents instead of talking in broad generalities. Physicians could suggest that parents use an egg timer to help children anticipate and be more compliant with bedtime or use time-out as an alternative to spanking a child for bad behavior.

Parents should be educated on distinguishing between childish behavior and willful disobedience, and should only discipline actions that are within the child's control based on their stage of development (Rushton, 1997). Preventing child abuse requires action at international, national, state, and community levels. Research has demonstrated that countries with more extensive social services experience lower rates of child homicide. Advocacy for increased access to drug and alcohol treatment programs, homeless shelters, mental health care, and shelters for abused women and children is essential. Moreover, these communities should have programs that offer parenting skills, support groups, and respite care for caregivers. Recognizing that child abuse stems from various causes, it is crucial for people to maintain a proactive stance against its prevention.

While there may not be strong evidence to guide prevention efforts, society can take steps to prevent abuse. By demonstrating greater concern for parents or caregivers and making efforts to improve their parenting or caregiving skills, we can potentially protect our most vulnerable individuals – our children – from the horrors of abuse and neglect.