The Issue of Child Abuse in the Home Environment
Child abuse predates human records. Even so, societies has recently come to recognize its significance. It can occur outside the regions, schools. The largest of it takes to spot in the home environment and is prompted by other family members. Child abuse occurs in several forms of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Child neglect assumes the form of emotional neglect similar failure to show a child love and affection, emotional abuse results from other forms of abuse. The true extent of child abuse is not identified, because the greatest available statistics are based on incidents reported by the abused child, social workers, teachers, and health professionals. The bulk of abused children including their, guardians never come forward because of the worry of the abusers being criticized.
Government statistics represent only a minute proportion of abused children. Polls are performed to determine the degree of child abuse, usually have methodological things, hence, their findings are not entirely trustworthy. The danger factors for child abuse include parents who have mental illnesses and abuse domestic violence. The behavior is more common in poor families whose parents are teenagers who abuse alcohol and drugs. Symptoms of child abuse can be physical and behavioral. Behavior changes indicate anxiety resulting from a stressful situation. Caregivers and teachers should regularly be alert to the signs of any form of abuse. Physical signs include unexplained wounds such as bruises, burns, and head injuries. Behavioral signs that should suggest concern include depression, nightmares, abdominal pain, headaches, stomachaches, bedwetting, abrupt declines in school performance, social withdrawal, remarkably aggressive, passive behaviors, swift increases or decreases in weight, and boost in appetite.
Child abuse and neglect have severe adverse physical and psychological consequences. Numerous abused children sustain more emotional than physical scars. They are unable to develop the skills needed to cope with life situations. As they grow older, they may misuse drugs, alcohol, refuse discipline, and abscond. In adulthood, they tend to have depression and suicidal behaviors. Younger children tend to be phonier than their older equivalents. Abused children require care. They should be managed by a pediatrician. The pediatrician treats the child for any medical injuries and provides information to investigators. Abused children should be handled by proper mental health professionals. The family of the child is normally taught so that it can provide the necessary psychological and emotional support the child lacks. If the abuse is occurring within the family environment, the child protective agency ensures that the child is placed in a safe environment. Parental feelings of stress, isolation, and frustration are the major causes of child abuse.
Parents should, therefore, be provided with the necessary assistance and knowledge on how to raise their children responsibly. They also need coaching on how to cope with their emotions of frustration. Parents who were victims of childhood abuse should seek help in confronting, addressing, and healing their old wounds. They should also be attentive to children’s reports of their school experiences and examine claims of being mistreated or abrupt changes in behavior. They should also educate children to remain away from strangers, not to go to unfamiliar places, and to say no if someone wants, them to do something against their will, and to communicate if someone troubles, them.
Parents must always have open two-way communication with their children, so that, they are free to report instances of abuse. In conclusion, child abuse may occur in various forms that are, neglect, physical, sexual abuse, psychological and emotional abuse. The true extent of child abuse is unknown due to underreporting. The risk factors for child abuse include parental depression, alcoholism, and drug. Victims of childhood abuse have unique support and treatment things, hence, they should be treated by a mental health specialist. The family should also be counseled on how to offer support to the child. The prevention of childhood abuse addresses etiological factors such as parental depression. To help stop the prevention of abuse occurring outside home contexts entail parents educating children on safe practices. Expressing interest in their child’s experiences, and establishment of open and trusting parental-child relationships.
