Forms Of Child Abuse Prevalent In Your Locality || 20%

CHILD ABUSE

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Who is a CHILD:?

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A Child is someone who is under the age of 18.
ABUSE Means the improper usage or treatment of a thing or somebody,often to gain benefit unfairly or improperly.

CHILD ABUSE Generally means the physical injury or neglect, mental injury, sexual abuse, exploitation or treatment of a child under the age of 18 by a adult under circumstances that indicates that the child's health or welfare is harmed or risked.

FORMS OF CHILD ABUSE PREVALENT IN OUR LOCALITY

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There are four major forms:
1.Neglect
2.Physical abuse
3.Emotional abuse
4.Sexual abuse

How To Recognize Signs Of Child Abuse:
Child abuse occurs when a child under the age of 18 is mistreated or neglected by an adult,resulting in harm.

― The adult maybe a relative, caregiver, step-parent and others.

In the United States, children experience child abuse or neglect at rate of 8.9per 1000children.

Child Abuse can occur in a single instance or several instances, but it falls within four main categories:

1.EMOTIONAL ABUSE:

It is a persistent, non-physical abuse that makes a child believe they are unwanted, unloved, worthless or only valuable in meeting their perpetrators needs.
*Words and actions *are used to manipulate or control a child, causing emotional harm that may result in low self-esteem, hostility, anxiety, depression or delinquency.
A pattern of emotionally abusive behaviour is difficult to recognise but is often present in all categories of child abuse including physical and sexual. When a child is being verbally abused, often their emotional development suffers as a result. Another name for emotional child abuse is "psychological or verbal abuse".

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TYPES
. Name-calling or criticizing
. Setting unreasonable expectations
. Threatening or terrorizing
. Ignoring boundaries
. Demanding or belittling
. Bullying
. Isolating the child

When a child is being abused emotionally, they will often changes in behaviour like; excessive crying, bed wetting, bullying, sleep, anxiety or other mental issues because emotional abuse is invisible. Signs and symptoms are difficult to recognise but without intervention, this can cause long term mental issues, such as substance abuse or severe "PTSD(Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)".

2.SEXUAL ABUSE:

By law,children cannot consent to sexual act of any kind. Any sexual activity that occurs between an adult and a minor is considered as "Sexual Abuse".

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TYPES:
. An adult exposing their genitalia to a child
. Molestation
. Sexual intercourse of any kin, including vaginal, oral or anal
. Sexual assault incidents involving an object
. Masturbation in the presence of a child
. Sex trafficking
. Female gender mutilation
. Incest

Sexual abuse may occur once or many time but can have a lasting effect on a child's health and mental health. Some signs and symptoms are children keeping secrets, exhibiting inappropriate sexual behaviour, avoiding the removal of clothings, etc.

We all know the disease that can be transmitted through this which is HIV, AIDS and others

3.PHYSICAL ABUSE

Any act of harm committed against a child that results in injury is physical abuse, even if it's unintentional is known as physical Abuse. it is a common cause of child mobility or mortality.

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TYPES:

• Hitting or beating with objects
• Burning the child with hot water, fire or hot iron
• Kicking, etc

The signs are bruises, burns, scars, bone fractures or other injuries on the body of the child.

4.NEGLECT

Neglect occurs in 61% of child abuse cases.
Child neglect occurs when a parent or caregiver fails to provide food, clothing, shelter, medical care, etc. to maintain or protect the child's health, safety and well-being, resulting in harm or threat of harm

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TYPES
. Failing to give a child medical care or treatment when needed
. Exposing the child to domestic abuse and all others which are listed in the meaning of neglect.

Sexual abuse is most common in our locality today

WHO IS AR RISK THE MOST

The female child is at risk the most because she suffers the most common abuse which is sexual abuse.

EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE

Child abuse can have a devastating effect on a child's belief, self-esteem, development and ability to function well, they are:
. Physical health
. Mental health
. Childhood trauma
. Brain development
. Social difficulties
. Behavioural issues

WAYS TO AVOID CHILD ABUSE

• Volunteer your time as a parent
• Discipline your children thoughtfully
• Examine your behaviour as a parent and as a child
• Teach children their rights
• Support prevention programs
• Know what child abuse is
• Know the signs
• Report abuse of any kind
• Invest in kids

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CONCLUSION

Encourage leaders in the cimmunity to be supportive of children and family and also create awareness everywhere.

Invite: @bossj23, @vickybless @Inemesituwah

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@steemkidss
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