CHILD ABUSE AND ITS EFFECTS

CHILD ABUSE AND IT'S EFFECTS | Muhammed Abdulmajeed A.

A child is considered important and cherished in every part of the universe ; Arrival of a child is celebrated with sorts of good things in families especially among the new married couples. A childless marriage was a source of grievous disappointment and frustration between the husband and his wife and major cause of family disorder.

A childless woman is regarded as a liability in most communities. Despite the importance attached to child bearing and upbringing and in spite of the fact that there cannot be a happy Union without a child, many children have become victim of abuse and neglect. The way child abuse or trafficking have been on the increase in Nigeria is highly disturbing despite the existence of so many churches and religious groups in our country. The paper examined what human trafficking and child abuse are all about, 

the causes and consequences of these ugly trend. The paper discovered that child abuse trafficking are combined to taint Nigerian’s image and they are perhaps the center of modern day slavery. There is an urgent need to put an end to these ungodly and inhuman activities.

Child Abuse

Child abuse is the physical or mental injury of a child by any parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of a child, or by any household or family member, under circumstances that indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or at substantial risk of being harmed; or  sexual abuse of a child, whether physical injuries are sustained or not. Child abuse is accompanied with Neglect. Neglect is the leaving of a child unattended or other failure to give proper care and attention to a child by any parent or other person who has permanent or temporary care or custody or responsibility for supervision of the child under circumstances that indicate: that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or placed at substantial risk of harm; or mental injury to the child or a substantial risk of mental injury. Neglect includes physical, educational, medical, and psychological/emotional neglect.

        When a child is abused physically or emotionally , the wounds run skin deep. Children who suffer the trauma repeatedly feel lonely, scared, worthless and unloved, which is exactly the opposite of how children should feel. Abused children often become broken, hollow and bitter, with disastrous consequences that last long after the physical wounds have healed.

Their are many factors that contribute to the cause of this ugly & inhuman activities;
Some of these factors cause some people to have difficulty meeting the demands of parenthood, leading them to become abusive when they don’t know what else to do. These factors include immaturity, unrealistic expectations, emotional problems, economic crisis, lack of parenting knowledge, difficulty in relationships, depression and other mental health problems. When the stress of childcare combines with anxiety from other sources, some parents lack the skills to cope with it in healthy ways. Instead, their tempers get the best of them in times of crisis.

The two main causes of child abuse are domestic violence and substance abuse. Children who live in households where violence is present usually end up becoming victims themselves. Reports said that 40 to 60 percent of men who abuse their female partners also abuse their children.

Substance abuse is another leading cause of child abuse. To the best of my knowledge, drugs or alcohol contribute to certain percent of cases of child maltreatment, meaning physical abuse or neglect. Children under five are the most victim to abuse or neglect by a substance-abusing parent and represent the fastest growing population of foster children.

Effect Of Child Abuse

1. PHYSICAL EFFECTS: The most obvious effect of child abuse is physical injury to the child. physical injuries can be minor, such as bruises, or severe, such as broken bones or even death, but the pain and suffering leaves much deeper emotional scars.
Sometimes, abuse can lead to lasting or recurring health problems, such as shaken baby syndrome or impaired brain development. Abused babies and toddlers are especially vulnerable to injuries to important regions of the brain that are still developing, causing long-term problems with cognitive, language and academic abilities. 

2. PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS: Children who get abused often feel isolated, fearful and untrusting, and these immediate effects can transform into lifelong consequences, including low self-esteem, depression and relationship difficulties. 
Other psychological conditions associated with abuse are panic disorder, dissociative disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and reactive attachment disorder. It is also reported that many kids who are abused score lower than average on tests of cognitive ability, language development and academic achievement.

3. BEHAVIORAL EFFECTS: Abused and neglected kids are 25 percent more likely to experience problems such as delinquency, teen pregnancy and teen drug use and eleven times more likely to be arrested for criminal behavior as a juvenile.

Solution or prevention to child Abuse and Trafficking

Conclusively, these are some of the ways or means I think can help in preventing child abuse in our society. 

1. Be a nurturing parent: Children need to know that they are special, loved and capable of following their dreams. Learn about how children grow and mature and have realistic expectations of what your child can and cannot do.

2. Provides Resources: Whether it is providing support classes for parents, teaching them child care and parenting strategies, or helping with economic support and stability during times of difficulty, struggling parents and families need help and support. Violence against children can be reduced when parents and families are equipped with strategies, support, and skills when caring for children.

3. Supporting Children: Often times, children are great imitators. They frequently model what they learn and experience from the adults in their lives. Time and time again, a child’s greatest role model is often the parent. For those children who have watched a parent inflict violence and abuse upon another, these children are more apt to repeat this later on in their adult life with their spouses or partners. Drugs and alcohol abuse later in their lives is also likely path. In order to break this future cycle of abuse, we need to offer therapy, counseling, support, and services to these children.

4. Raise Awareness: Knowledge is power, and awareness brings advocacy. Educate those around you about the realities of domestic abuse and violence. Whether it is where you work, where you exercise, where you practice your faith, or where your own circle of friends and family are, inform and educate them about this issue. When those around you become aware of the realities of domestic violence among children, they become advocates, as well. 

5. Be an advocate: Perhaps the biggest impact one can make in preventing child abuse and domestic violence is to become an advocate of change. By contacting lawmakers, politicians, and publicity agents through means of emails, letters, phone calls, and other means of communication, one can bring attention to the needs of these children who are various forms of abuse. Along with this, these advocates of change can also post information in editorial letters, websites & social media, public forums, and so forth. By lobbying for change, new laws can be introduced, and information can be brought forward to the general public.

6. Promote programs in schools: Teaching children, parents and teachers prevention strategies can help to keep children safe.

7. Monitor your child’s television and video viewing: Watching violent films and TV programs harms young children. It scares them, and teaches children that aggression is a good way to handle frustration and solve problems.

The Writer "Child Abuse".