Types of Child Abuse

By Roy D'Silva
Child Abuse is rampant in all parts of the world.While many crimes are easily discovered and reported, there are some which may never see the light of the day. Child abuse is one such crime which is rarely noticed and seldom reported.

Child abuse is quite simply neglect by parents for their children. Maltreatment is also termed as child abuse. Child abuse may be sexual, physical or emotional in nature. Depending on various factors and situations, child abuse mars a child for life and may impede their progress and lifestyle.

Other than these kinds, child abuse can also come out of mere neglect of the various needs of children as they grow up. A child may not have the amenities and/or toys that their friends have. This kind of child abuse has a intense impact on the child, as the child may grow up to be anything from an introvert to a person at war with the entire society for no particular reason. Almost eighty percent of persons having experienced child abuse are at the risk of developing severe psychiatric problems. A majority of these children also face trauma and other disorder like the reactive attachment disorder. Some children may also face depression and anxiety.

Child abuse can be caused by parents,guardians,relatives or even friends of the child. A number of child abuse cases have been found to have occurred in institutions revolving around kids, like schools, residential schools, churches and even in government agencies.

Physical abuse also play an important part in deciding how the child grows up to be. Isolated cases of physical abuse cannot be termed as child abuse. Physical abuse can be repeated injuries and beatings,kickings, burns and other forms of torture. Physical abuse is one of the most easily recognized child abuses as it is can be easily made out by the markings and bruises on the body of the child. State and other laws say that any non-accidental physical injury to the child, or other actions that result in physical impairments in the child are physical abuses.

Substance abuse is also a type of child abuse under the law. If any manufacture or use of a controlled substance abuse takes place in the presence of the child, it is termed as Substance abuse. The manufacture may take place either in the presence of the child or premises occupied by the child. Substance abuse also incorporates selling, distributing or

giving drugs and alcohol to the child.

Other than physical abuse, emotional abuse is another major kind of child abuse that children suffer. This abuse can be verbal and generally denigrating to the child. Emotional abuse is more common amongst siblings.

Another kind of child abuse is neglect. Any failure to provide the necessary commodities of a child life, more importantly food, clothing, shelter and medical care is termed as neglect. Further, if the parents or guardians refuse or fail to provide the child with the financial support they require, it can be termed as neglect.

Abandonment is also maintained to be a type of child abuse. If the identity and whereabouts of the parents are not known to the child, it is considered as a case of abandonment. Abandonment also means that the child has been left by the parents in situations where they can face physical harm, or if the parents have failed to keep in contact with the child for a large span of time.

Child Abuse in itself is a grave legal as well as moral crime. No type of child abuse is worse than the rest. However, the abuse that maybe mars the child's psychology to the greatest level is sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is considered to be exposing the child, or making them partners in sexual or sex-related acts.The pie chart below shows the types of child abuse.