Child Abuse: Implications, Identification, and Protective Strategies

This essay delves into the multifaceted issue of child abuse, defining it as any form of physical, emotional, or sexual maltreatment or neglect. It explores the various types and signs of abuse, emphasizing the severe impacts on a child's cognitive development, self-esteem, and mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal. The essay underscores the importance of prompt and appropriate responses to unusual behaviors in children, highlighting the responsibilities of child protection practitioners in safeguarding children's rights, raising awareness, and implementing strategies for identifying and reporting abuse. It references the Children's Act of 2004 and emphasizes the need for practitioners to be informed about child protection laws, build rapport with children, and ensure the safety and confidentiality of victims. The essay concludes by outlining the procedures to be taken when allegations of child abuse are made, reinforcing the paramount importance of protecting the child.

CHANGING NATURE OF
CHILDHOOD
Child abuse and its implications on
the child

Types and Signs of Child Abuse
• Any form of physical or emotional abuse or
maltreatment of a child is termed as Child Abuse.
• The abuse can be of physical, sexual or emotional types.
• When a guardian or parent deliberately performs an act
which poses serious threat to the child in the form of
sexual or emotional abuse is termed as child abuse.
• Even the inability of the guardian or the parent to
safeguard the rights of the child and neglecting the
duties of the child is also termed as Child Abuse.

The need to respond appropriately to
unusual behaviors
• Children are innocent and need protection.
• Any harm inflicted at an early age can have
serious repercussions in the life of the child.
• It will inflict serious damage to the self-confidence
and will scar the child for the rest of his/her life.
• The trauma is felt by the victims of child abuse all
their lives, therefore it is important to respond
immediately and appropriately to any unusual
behaviors (Srivastava, Nigam and Singh 2015).

Effects of Child Abuse on a Child
Child Abuse has severe impacts on a child such
as:
• Less Cognitive development.
• Low Self-esteem
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Withdrawn and avoid social contacts

Appropriate actions and responses to
possible abuse
• The most important task for the practitioner in
case of any possible abuse is to continue to
engage in a constructive dialogue with the
child.
• It is important to understand the child’s worries
and what is going on in the child’s mind.
• It is important to talk with the child’s teacher or
parent.

Responsibilities and roles of Child protection practitioners
• Utmost priority must be allocated to safeguard
the rights and wellbeing of the child.
• Children must be given importance by properly
listening to their conversations and understanding
the issues which are faced by them.
• Spread awareness among the parents and the
School authorities as to how to protect the
children and how to respond to any situation
wherein Child Abuse is reported.

How to implement strategies to identify to and report child abuse.
• There must be constant inspection in the institutions
wherein the children are taught.
• Children being in a vulnerable stage, must be engaged in
dialogues by the practitioners. Doing this will enable the
child to open up and reveal about any abuse.
• The Children’s Act of 2004 states that the protection of
children shall be of utmost importance and provides a
legislative support for the improvement of children’s lives
(Cypp.powys.gov.uk 2018).
• Any abuse if reported must be reported to the Children’s
Commissioner.

How to identify child abuse
• Generally, it has been noticed that victims of child abuse
are withdrawn and detached due to the extreme trauma
they go through.
• It is therefore extremely important to engage every child
in a dialogue process and to know their inner thoughts.
• Victims of Child abuse tend to take time confiding in any
individual so it is advisable for the child protectionist
groups to be extremely friendly and provide warmth and
comfort to the children (Lonne and Parton 2014).

Responsibilities of practitioners during the
issues of child protection
• The practitioner of child rights and child abuse must
be thoroughly informed about the laws regarding
child protection.
• The practitioners must be friendly and able to
converse with children in a very warm and friendly
manner so that the children are able to confide in
that person easily.
• The practitioners must spread awareness among the
general public regarding the harm of child abuse and
how to respond to child abuse if it is reported.

How to respond if a child says he/ she has been abused
• If the child is trying to say something then it is important to
listen to the child with care and understanding.
• The child trusts the person in whom he/she confides, so it is
important to understand the situation.
• The person or the practitioner has the responsibility to ensure
the safety of the child so it is important to act responsively and
in a caring manner towards the child (Sidaway, McGregor and
Stephens-Lewis 2016).
• It takes immense courage for the child to speak up against child
abuse, so the practitioners or any person in whom the child
confides must be supportive and calm during such a situation.

The procedures to be taken when any
allegation of child abuse is made
• If any child abuse allegation is made against
anyone whether it be the parents, staff or any
individual then it is important to report the
regional Child Protection office immediately.
• The identity of the victim must be kept
confidential.
• The safety of the child must be ensured at all
cost because the victim is in an extremely
vulnerable situation.

References
Cypp.powys.gov.uk. 2018. CYPP: Children's Act 2004. [online]
Available at: http://www.cypp.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=4658
[Accessed 7 May 2018].
Lonne, B. and Parton, N., 2014. Portrayals of child abuse scandals
in the media in Australia and England: Impacts on practice, policy,
and systems. Child abuse & neglect, 38(5), pp.822-836.
Sidaway, S., McGregor, K. and Stephens-Lewis, D., 2016. Child
Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Emerging Victim Trajectories and
Prevention.
Srivastava, R., Nigam, A.K. and Singh, N., 2015. Application of
randomized response techniques in estimation of prevalence of
child sexual abuse. Stat. Appl, 13, pp.37-45.