Contemporary Issues on Health: A Case Study on Child Abuse

This paper discusses the prevalence, causes, theories, and ethical issues of child abuse in the UK through a case study. It also analyzes relevant government legislation and policies to curb child abuse.

Contemporary Issues on Health
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliations
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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Issues......................................................................................................................................... 4
A critical discussion of the issues raised in the case study.................................................... 4
Criticality................................................................................................................................... 7
Conclusion............................................................................................................................... 11
References.............................................................................................................................. 13
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Contemporary Issues on Health
Introduction
Child abuse refers to the maltreatment or mistreatment of young ones through
psychological, sexual, and physical abuse or neglect. It is important to note that the neglect or
abuse of the children is by and large displayed by guardians, caregiver or the parents.
Moreover, the premises or setting where the abuse occurs can be within the community, in
school, in child’s home, or in any organization where the child interact or relate with others.
According to Denholm et al. (2013), child mistreatment or abuse is deemed as an atrocious
crime or offense which is principally committed by the parents. In the United Kingdom,
statistics show that more 500,000 children are abused each year, implying that the rate of
child abuse is relatively high as well as horrendous. Therefore, in this paper, I endeavor to
develop or come up with a case study grounded on a certain incident of a child abuse. On a
similar note, I would incorporate a discussion of the ethical issues, causes as well as
prevalence of the incident of child abuse. I would as well endeavor to critique the evidence
presented in the incident and elucidate the various relevant government legislation and
policies put in place to curb child abuse. The incident of the child abuse involves a two-year-
old boy killed by his father and mother after a manifold of instances of physical and
psychological abuse in their household. In conclusion, the essay will explore some of the
critical issues mentioned in the discussion and what governments strive to do to shun the high
rates of child abuse in the nations and society.
Case Study
The incident of child abuse involve a two-year-old boy by the name Wilson Fred who
was found dead in their home by the emergency services staff members after being alerted by
Julia Wilson, the mother, who was at that time living with her companion Monica Smith. It is
worthwhile noting that Fred Wilson’s abuse started a year prior to the time of the incident
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when they shifted to a new place of residence. Monica and Julia were soon to get into a civil
partnership and deceptively needed to get rid of the boy to able to work without any
hindrance. The couple would lock up the child in an improvised confine in a very filthy and
messy room. Besides locking the boy in a filthy room, Julia and Monica often abused the
child physically by the use of ropes, a metal frame, chains as well as cable ties. Almost every
day Fred Wilson would be caned and beaten up for no apparent reason after which lock him
up in the birdcage with his hands tied the whole night. He would as well be vehemently
forced to take cold baths which deteriorated his health condition. In the course of his last
days, Fred Wilson’s nursery notified the social services staff as they got worried concerning
the behavioral changes in the little boy, for example, from being joyful to becoming dull and
silent. An investigation and assessment after his death showed that he had suffered more than
thirty injuries encompassing a ruptured heart, double fractures of the arm and thigh bone.
Issues
A critical discussion of the issues raised in the case study
Prevalence
The prevalence or dominance of child abuse in United Kingdom is one the main
social issues which needs to be overcome with immediate effect to aid in improving children
growth and development in the nation. NSPCC shows that the prevalence or predominance of
child abuse in the United Kingdom is still unrecognizable. It reveals that child abuse
incidences are usully being carried out in privately and because the victims or sufferers being
too young are ashamed and scared to expose the incidences in front of their teachers or
parents (Nspcc, 2018). Statistics issued by the United Kingom regime in 2016 show that
there are approximately 57,000 children who to a great extent require instantaneous
protection from innumerable child abuse cases. In spite of the efforts taken by the United
Kingdom government toward the security and safety of every child, the statistics evidently
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outlines that the pervasiveness of sexual crimes against children is documented to be about
54,987 in 2015/2016. It is important to note that many of the victims or sufferers of child
abuse in are largely under the age group of 15 years. According to NSPCC, (2018), this age
group is mostly likely to be predisposed by abusers for child trafficking. From the case
study, it can or could be identified that Wilson Fred, the two-year-old child has been a
sufferer or victim of constant child abuse from Monica Smith and her mother Julia Wilson.
The prevalence or dominance of child abuse was so repeated that Fred Wilson passed on in
his bedroom.
Causes
Biçakçi et al.(2016) have concentrated on carrying out a comprehensive research of
child abuse. It is vital to note that there are different reasons or motives for child abuse that
tend to be dissimilar from one status quo to another. The major reasons motives for child
abuse include alcoholism, substance abuse, and socio-economic factors. Similarly, if an
individual has a history of being a sufferer or victim of child abuse especially if he or she has
suffered violence, rejection or maltreatment during his or her childhood may result in him or
her also abusing others. On the other hand, some of the socio-economic factors which result
in child abuse rise when members of families face financial obligations or responsibilities
amidst each other. A greater number of low-income househlds have been found to be children
abusers through forcing the young ones to work at very early ages whereas. Contrariwise, in
the high-income and middle-income families, studies show that many parents abuse their
children, for instance, for the children’s failure to live up to their high demands or
expectations. The happening of the above situation affects the general development of the
children both physically and mentally.
Hermes (2017), advocates that the facet of substance abuse, for example, miraa
consumption is as well a significant reason or motive for the increase of child abuse in the
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United Kingdom. In regards to PCANY, it is recorded that about 70 percent of children abuse
cases or incidences like sexual abuse, neglect, and physical abuse are as a result of alcohol
consumption and drug use or substance abuse. Children under the age of 5 years are
considered most vulnerable to alcohol consumption and substance abuse from their respective
parents because they are very young to either confront the substance abusers or protest. As a
final point, domestic abuse is as well a principal reason or motive which lead to the
occurrence or happening of the cases or incidences of child abuse or maltreatment in the
nation. Health24 (2011), advocates that the existence of abusive mothers and fathers in the
family is a prime cause of domestic abuses because they take over the child in the form of
torturing beating and even abusing them to reomve the frustration of office stress and
household chores. It is apparent from the case study in regards to Wilson Fred that the two-
year-old boy passed on due to persistent domestic abuse tendered on him by Monica and his
mother Julia Wilson through physical torture and through tying him up with ropes and chains
in the cage.
Theories/Concepts
Bacon & Richardson (2001) has been identified to be discussing the aspect of
attachment theory which is associated with the issue of child abuse. The attachment theory
states that there is an importance of the relationship between the primary caregiver and child
so that strong emotional and personal development is increased. The implication of
attachment theory in the social case scenario of child abuse can be viewed as a literature path
which would benefit in working closely with both the abused child and the abusive adult in
order to understand the need that resulted in practising child abuse. The attachment theory is
suitable for the case study of two-year-old boy Fred who died due to child abuse. It can be
said that authorities of Sunshine Nursery School upon viewing the physical condition of Fred
should have taken the initiative to report to local police authorities or care homes who would
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have utilised the attachment theory to understand the actual reason behind the continuous
abuse by Monica and Julia (Erozkan, 2016). Similarly, Social Learning theory is also an
important theory that plays a major role in child abuse. It should be taken into consideration
that development of behaviour within children largely depends on the parents. If parents are
abusive, children would be abusive in the later stages of their life (Hosier, 2017). Similarly,
from the case study, it could be assumed that the parent of Julia Wilson might have been
abusive and treated her badly which in-turn has replicated on her attitude and behaviour
towards her child Fred.
Ethical principles and issues
The ethical issues which are associated with the aforementioned case study are that
his Fred’s mother, Julia Wilson and Monica have endlessly and severely abused the two-year-
old kid making him succumb to death. The toddler has over and over again been found out to
be unethically tied up with chains and ropes at home geared toward punishing him. The
punishment is unethical because there is nothing wrong he has done to either Monica or Julia.
From the above case study, AL and FR (2000), state that it can be identified or acknowledged
that the ethical principle of utilitarianism theory has been followed or demonstrated by both
Julia and Monica. The duo are very happy or excited with the fact that they have inflicted
distress and severe pain on the minor which in turn has led to his death. They are of the
feeling that they have done a god thing by torturing the young boy with tying up with chains
and ropes as well as beating him up on very many events.
Criticality
The series of cases of child abuse which is among the critical felonious acts currently
testified has invoked the UK government to take strategic and effective actions against the
menace. According to Radford et al. (2011), the extensive history of child abuse outrages and
humiliations has forced the United Kingdom government to undertake and formulate
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legislation and policies which would foster changes within the society and reprimand the
criminals. The aforementioned case study in regards to Fred Wilson is an incidence of severe
child abuse resulting in a loss of life. The case is subject to various child protection
legislation and policies that could have been abided by the delinquents. In the United
Kingdom, the Education Department has got the responsibility for the acts of child protection
encompassing statutory guidance, legislation and policy to aid in ensuring that child
protection system is established and properly executed. According to NSPCC (2018), there
also exist Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) which play a significant role in
coordination to ensure that the voluntary and independent sectors, health bodies, police, and
local authorities, work together to promote as well as protect child welfare. The section
consists of three most fundamental legislation and policies which would be analytically
analysed.
The first policy or legislation is the Children Act of 1989. The policy focuses on
children’s welfare which has to be of greatest reputation to the courts. In the same token, the
bylaw denotes that responsibilities of maintaining and protecting the welfare of children have
been allotted to the human rights agencies within the United Kingdom, courts, parents, and
local authorities. The Act allows the court to charge the criminals with child abuse if there are
manifestations or signs of sexual, emotional, and physical, harm. The courts also consider the
wishes of children in case of background circumstances, educational needs, sex, and sex. The
impact of the change on the child, the harm the child has suffered, the parent’s ability to meet
the child’s needs and other essential powers available to the judicial system are all contained
in this Act (Morris, 1999). Conversely, the criticality and significance of this legislation can
be measured or determined via its weaknesses and strengths. In this regards, one of the
strengths of this Act is that it helps in ensuring that there is a collaborative approach by
different agencies ascertain children’s welfare. In the same vein, the legislation has the ability
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or prowess of amending the mistakes committed or exhibited by the parents in the instance of
child-rearing as the courts have the discretionary and jurisprudential powers to caution or
presage the parents in regards to their duties as well as responsibilities. The Children Act of
1989 also acknowledge the rights of children that are not taken into consideration in most
cases as a result of lack of ability to speak and cognitive development of the toddlers.
Nevertheless, the Act as well as comprises limitations. First, according to Loughran (2008),
the legislation does not embrace the accountability of the social care workers, therefore,
cogitates the children’s ability to show their preferences. In in the case of Fred, he could not
speak well due to his age and this would have limited the scope of the investigations.
Conversely, the barring of social workers in this legislation affects the case of child abuse.
For example, as the social workers were informed by Fred nursery that he was showing
unusual behaviour, however, the social workers could not so anything to save the child from
the abuse.
Subsequently, the Children Act of 2004 is a reformed and improved extension of the
1989 Children Act. It has basically strengthened the Children Act 1989. This law has realized
the significance of the partnership between agencies concerned about child abuse. It
embraces more accountability to aid investigations. A post of Children’s Commissioner for
England has been established within the law. It also encompasses a great deal of duty or
responsibility on the local authorities to partner with the health service providers, youth
judicial system, and police to plan and arrange for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of
the children (RICHES, 2008) . Notably, this law has helped in strengthening the physical
punishment inflicted in children through limiting the use of reasonable punishments created
by the defence. The law outlines that if signs of abuse and harm are not clearly visible on the
body of the child, there the delinquents may face no reasonable punishment. Consequently,
the strength of the law is related to the weaknesses of the Children Act 1989 in regards to the
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lack of accountability consideration of a social worker. This legislation, therefore, encompass
a strong partnership among entities and agencies which as well include the social workers to
promote an all-inclusive children welfare (Erozkan, 2016). Most importantly, the strength of
this particular legislation is that the each organization working toward children welfare is
accountable for any incidence of an atrocious offense or crime. In Fred’s case, abiding by this
bylaw could have encouraged or stimulated the social agencies within the region to notify the
incidence to judicial authorities or the police to take care of the toddler in the care units. It is,
however, important to note that one of the weaknesses of this legislation is that not like the
Children Act 2004, it does not put into considerations the preferences and opinions of the
children who have attained the cognitive development phase with the ability to speak. In a
scenario of child abuse, the statements of the children are deemed most important as it is
alleged the children cannot lie about an incident and, therefore, present the fact or truth.
Nevertheless, according to Roche and Tucker (2007), the legislation can face criticism on the
ground that it doesn’t consider children’s right of expression, for example, views and
opinions.
The third law which is also essential for the children abuses incidences is the Children
and Social Work Act 2017. Apparently, this law is alleged to have received a Royal Assent
on 2017, April 27. It supports children in care, regulates the social work profession, and
safeguards the children. Additionally, it allows the caregivers and parents to be careful with
their care processes since inappropriate or improper care activities can land them in jail. The
law gives the local safeguarding children boards the duty to arrange for the safeguarding of
the children through collaborating with the police, local authorities, and clinical
commissioning groups (Ferguson, 2016). One of the duties of the local safeguarding
authorities is to identify staid child safeguarding incidences that can potentially result in a
fatal event if not investigated or reviewed effectively. In Fred’s case, the local safeguarding
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authority could not detect the atrocious crime which was being committed behind doors. Due
to their poor regulation, Fred Wilson had to die at a tender age of just two years. One of the
strengths of this law is that it contains a nationwide Child Safeguarding Practice Review
Panel which has an aim of identifying some of the staid child protection incidences which are
of national reputation (Hosier, 2017). The panel has got a responsibility of reviewing the
cases after which prepare a report on the lessons learnt by the local authorities so that they
work jointly to safeguard and protect the children more effectively. On the other hand, one of
the Weaknesses of this legislation is its lack of clear provision in regards to the
responsibilities and roles of the social workers. The social workers usually face constraints on
registering some cases.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is important to acknowledge the fact that Fred’s case on child abuse
is extremely a sad case as it resulted in death. The prevalence or dominance of children abuse
is very high in the UK with its causes critically linked to domestic abuse, substance abuse,
and socio-economic environment of the family. In Fred’s case, domestic abuse is appropriate
to his mother and Monica because they needed to enter into civil partnership and it was only
through getting rid of the child they could enter the civil partnership. This besought the duo
to take part in the heinous offense. Notably, this paper identifies two theories including social
learning theory and attachment theory to be appropriate to the case of child abuse regarding
Fred, Julia, and Monica. The approaches have forked out the incidences of parent and child
relationship or association which is significant for the emotional as well as personal
development and as well reduction of child abuse incidences. Bearing in mind the incidence
of child abuse, the utilitarianism ethical code or principle played a critical role in helping to
understand and comprehend the cases as well ascauses of child abuse. As a result of child
abuse, the United Kingdom regime has undertaken parliamentary measures to shun or combat
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child abuse cases. The three laws which aid in preventing child abuse in UK include the
Children and Social Work Act 2017, the Children Act 2004, and the Children Act 1989.
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