Child Abuse

There are children mistreated or inadequately cared for by their parents that we need to have a better life. Here are some figures that are shuffled on the incidence of abuse:

- In USA register annually 2.3 million reports of suspected abuse and neglect and, at least, 1250 deaths.
- It is estimated that annually in the U.S. 1.5% of children suffer neglect and abuse suffered by 1%.
- Between 1970 and 1980 occurred in Sweden a rate of 0.6 per 100,000 children under 15 years killed because of abuse.

In the case of Spain known figures represent 10% or 20% of the actual data, so we know only a fraction of abuse actually exists. Also in the incidence of different types of abuse within the population of children affected similarities in various studies conducted in our country. Neglect is by far the most common form of abuse, followed by emotional abuse.

Before proceeding to explain the concept of child abuse and their type, make it clear that the area of child abuse is not free of subjective and emotional overtones combined with a shortage of a solid body of empirical evidence, has led to the birth and perpetuation of many myths. Myths that hinder public awareness of this problem, hinder the effective practice and challenge our understanding of the phenomenon. Some of these myths are:

- Child abuse is rare.
- Child abuse is carried out by people who are alcoholics, drug addicts or they're crazy.
- Child abuse occurs in lower social classes.
- Child abuse is physical abuse.
- Child abuse is always given in private.

Defining child abuse:

It should be noted further that the definition of child abuse itself, the common features and that although under the generic term for child abuse involve different types of situations, which differ in their detection, etiology, treatment and prevention. They all have different characteristics in common, which we discuss in short form:

- Adversely affect the physical and / or mental impairment of the child and undertake its proper development.
- They are the manifestation and result of a series of problems affecting the psychological wellbeing of parents / guardians, and his present and past environment.
- Its negative effects are increasing in intensity as the situation becomes chronic or more severe.

Events / Types of child abuse:

We can name twelve situations that currently are identified as child abuse:

A) physical abuse:
"Any non-accidental action by parents / guardians to cause physical injury or disease in the child or place him at serious risk of autism.

- Physical indicators in children:

a) bruising or bruises on the face, lips or mouth, large areas of the torso, back, ... All are in various stages of healing or location, size, number or unusual form (with marks of objects).
b) Burn with definite forms of concrete objects or cigarettes or cigars, and even carried out by immersion in hot water.
c) Fractures of the nose or jaw or spiral of long bones.
d) Sprains or dislocations.
e) human bite marks made by an adult clearly and repeatedly.
f) Cuts or punctures.
g) Internal injuries, skull fractures, brain damage, bruises, choking and drowning.

To identify the presence of physical abuse has met at least one of the following requirements:

1. At least once he has detected the presence of at least one indicator. The physical injuries are not "normal" in the range of predictability in a child of his age and characteristics (either by their increased frequency or intensity, being seemingly inexplicable injuries or inconsistent with the explanations given by the child and / or parents, etc).
2. No it was clearly understood none of the indicators identified, but there is certain knowledge that the child has suffered any physical injuries reported as a result of the actions of their parents or guardians
3. There are no physical injuries but there is a certain knowledge that parents / guardians using excessive corporal punishment or beatings to the boy. For these two types of shares are classified as physical abuse, should be present the following factors:

- The intensity of the reaction of the parent does not reflect the seriousness of the child's behavior. Or the discipline administered was not appropriate or not in accordance with the interests of the child according to age and developmental level.
- It appears that the parent did not control his reaction as his punishment.
- In addition to the above, the child develops a reaction to emotional stress is not justified.

B) emotional abuse (emotional):

"Hostility in the form of chronic verbal insult, contempt, criticism or threat of abandonment, and constant blocking of the interaction initiatives for children (from avoidance to the confinement or containment) by any adult household member.

- Types of conduct that includes:

a) Reject: In general, involves behaviors of parents / guardians to communicate or are gone:

- From zero to two years active rejection by the parent to accept the primary initiatives of child's attachment to it initiatives and responses to natural / normal human contact.
- Until four years active exclusion of children from family activities.
- School age: child transmission of a constant negative self-assessment.
- Adolescence: Refusal to accept the changes in social role expected in the young (ie, move towards greater autonomy and self-determination).

b) Terrorizing: This refers to situations where the child is threatened with punishment to one extreme or vague but sinister, trying to create in him an intense fear. You can also terrify the child by creating unattainable expectations for him with threat of punishment for not achieving them:

- From zero to two years, consistent and deliberate rupture of the child's tolerance to changes and new stimuli.
- Until four years: The use of exaggerated gestures and words intended to intimidate, threaten or punish the child.
- School Age: Requiring the child to respond to conflicting demands of parents / guardians.
- Adolescents: Threat of exposing the young to public humiliation

c) Insulation: Refers to deprive the child of opportunities to socialize:

- From zero to two years: Denial of the child from the ability to interact continuously with parents or other adults.
- Until four years: The parent taught to avoid any social contact other than with him.
- School age: active avoidance of a child maintaining normal relations with their peers.
- Adolescence: Avoiding the youth actively participate in organized and informal activities outside the home.

d) Domestic violence extreme and / or chronic permanently occur situations of physical violence and / or verbal abuse between parents around the child.

To define the existence of such abuse should be submitted at least one of the above situations repeatedly and / or continuously, and the presence of such / is the indicator / s must be clearly perceptible.

C) Physical Neglect:

'The child's basic physical needs (food, clothing, hygiene, security and surveillance in hazardous situations, education and / or medical care) are not served temporarily or permanently by any group member who lives with the child. "

- Indicators in children:

a) Food: You are not providing adequate food. He is hungry.
b) Dress: Clothing is inappropriate for the weather. The child is well protected from the cold.
c) Hygiene: Constantly dirty, poor hygiene.
d) Medical care: absence or retardation of the medical care of physical problems, illnesses or needs. Absence of routine medical care.
e) Monitoring: The child spends long periods of time without supervision and adult supervision. Domestic accidents occur repeatedly clearly due to the negligence of parents / carers of children.
f) Hygiene and safety conditions of the home that are hazardous to health and safety of the child.
g) Educational Area: Repeated unexcused absence and the school

To define the existence of physical neglect, must be filed one or more of the indicators repeatedly and / or continuous.

D) Negligence psychological (emotional):

"Lack of response to persistent signals solicitors emotional expressions and behaviors of proximity and interaction initiated by the child and lack of initiative and contact interaction by a stable adult figure.

- Types of conduct that includes:

a) Skip: This refers to situations where there is a total lack of availability of parents toward the child, or when they are inaccessible and unable to respond to any child's behavior:

- From zero to two years, providing no response to the child's spontaneous social behaviors.
- Two to four years coldness and lack of caring in the treatment of parent to child participation and not the child's daily activities
- School Age: Failure to protect children from external threats or to intervene in favor of it even knowing that he needs help.
- Adolescence: The waiver by parents at parental role and total lack of interest in the young.

b) Rejection of counseling: Refusal of parents / guardians to seek treatment from any emotional or behavioral problems of children, existing access to a resource of treatment recommended by competent professionals.
c) Delay in counseling: Parents / guardians do not provide or seek psychological help to solve an emotional or behavioral disturbance of children to an extreme circumstance in which it is a clear need for professional help (eg, severe depression, attempted suicide, etc.)..
In order to define the existence of psychic negligence should be submitted at least one of the above situations repeatedly and / or continuously, and their presence has to be clearly perceptible.

E) Sexual abuse:

"Any kind of sexual contact with a minor, or direct use as an object of sexual stimulation, when there is the age and maturity to consent or, if achieved both takes advantage of a position of superiority, ancestry, power or authority, or used deception to obtain consent, and in any case, still on he uses violence or threat with those purposes.

- Types of conduct that includes:

a) Sexual assault: Are relationships or sexual contacts of all kinds in which use violence or intimidation on a minor.

The objectively more severe form of this group of behaviors is rape, involving penetration or, where appropriate, the introduction of objects, via vaginal, oral or anal sex.

b) Sexual assault in the strict sense: are the relationships or sexual contacts of all kinds about children who have not attained the age and maturity to informed consent and freedom.

Also include instances where, to obtain that consent, is used deception or takes advantage of the superior position (physical or otherwise), ancestry, power or authority we have over the minor.

c) Other sexual abuse: This includes other behaviors in which there is no physical contact but a direct use of a minor with a sexual purpose. Such is the case of exhibitionism or distribution or display of pornographic material from minors.

The three types of behavior are of particular gravity when they are involved either as perpetrators, acquiesced or facilitators, parents, guardians or other caregiver of a minor.

F) Sexual exploitation:

The use of children by their parents or guardians, or by other people when they know and do not preclude it, in prostitution or in making pornographic material or performances in order to obtain a benefit, whether financial or otherwise .

G) Operating hours:

"Parents / guardians assigned to mandatory child conducting ongoing work (household or not)" that:

- Exceed the limits of normal.
- Should be made by adults.
- Clearly interfere in the activities and social needs and / or child's school.
- Are assigned to the child with the basic objective of economic benefit or similar for parents or family structure.

H) Induction of crime:

"Parents facilitate and reinforce patterns of antisocial or deviant behavior (particularly in the area of aggression, sexuality and drugs) that prevent the normal development and social integration of children. It also includes situations in which parents use the child to carry out criminal activities (eg transport of drugs, theft, ...)».

I) Model of inadequate home life for your child:

"The home where the child lives is a life model unsuitable for normal development to curb antisocial or self-destructive patterns.

- Types of conduct that includes:

a) criminal conduct, particularly those that cause harm to others, drug trafficking.
b) Consumption of toxic chemicals.
c) self-destructive behaviors.

In order to define the existence of a life model unsuitable for the child: to be submitted at least one of the above situations repeatedly and / or continuing, their presence must be clearly visible, the inadequate model must be clearly perceptible by the child in their daily interaction, the child must meet the sufficient conditions of vulnerability model, cognitive capacity and moral reasoning development.

J) Failure to comply with parental obligations:

"Children can not get care and attention required by their parents / guardians, and is totally impossible, either temporarily or permanently, a change in the situation that provokes it."

The incapacitation may result from the following circumstances of the parents / guardians:

- Death (orphaning the child).
- Imprisonment.
- Disabling illness (physical or mental).

K) Abandonment:

"Delegation total of parents / guardians of child care in other people, with physical removal and complete misunderstanding of the company and child care.

L) Waiver:

'Refusal to recognize explicitly parenting the child, or refusal to own / maintain any legal right over it.

Often the behaviors of abuse and / or emotional neglect accompany other types of abuse.

Various surveys indicate that, except in cases of extreme gravity, the effects really long-term negative for the child does not derive primarily from the actions of physical aggression (whether by act or omission), but the emotional abuse that occurs simultaneously with physical abuse or neglect.