Introduction
Child abuse and neglect whether intended or unintended are types of mistreatment concerning children today. There are three types of child abuse; emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse. Though neglect essentially can be considered child abuse it falls in to a different category of its own. Child abuse has deeply adverse effects on the child which can last a lifetime. Children who are abused, whether physically, emotionally, sexually, or neglect, tend to be more at risk for deviant behaviors with the possibility of becoming one who abuses children themselves later in life. Child abuse is not only limited to the child’s parents but also caregivers, family members, daycare providers, and even educators to play a part in the abuse of a child. This is not only wrong it is against the law. When overlooked, the child becomes at risk to become abused. Whether a child is taken from their home or they grow up with a life of abuse they bear the scars of this abuse forever. During their childhood children depend on their parents and other adult figures to provide care and protect the children. Preventing and active help when abuse is found is crucial for the child’s wellbeing. This is an important problem that society has an obligation to focus on; the ramifications of the abused child, in turn can have an effect on society as well.
Categories of child neglect and abuse
As stated above there are four types of child maltreatment; neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse and neglect that states recognize in their definition. Neglect in its own can be broken up in to five different categories; physical, educational, emotional, medical, and chronic (Thurston, C. 2006). Each state may have a different meaning of child abuse and neglect, so the Federal legislation has given each state a guideline to work with. The purpose of the guideline is to provide each state a minimum set of standards determining the actions or manners that define child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect is defined by the Federal legislation as “Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional, sexual abuse or exploitation”; or “An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm .”
Concerns and effects of child neglect and abuse Child abuse and neglect create a series of concerns for our society. The toll that these issues have on our kids can impact not only them but our society as well. Neglect is known to have considerable and long lasting effects on a child’s physical and mental health along with their cognitive development. The concerns of neglect are death, decreased brain development, and it can follow then all of the way into adulthood creating problems with their liver along with ischemic heart disease a condition that affects the heart by not allowing it to receive enough blood. Neglect has been associated with inferior academic performance, emotional, and behavioral problems as well as depression and suicide. Children who are abused are at higher risk of suffering from emotional pain than they are from physical pain. Children who suffer from abuse can experience short term or long term consequences. The effects of child abuse that parents or caretakers need to be concerned about on child abuse are; physical, psychological, behavioral, and societal. One of the major concerns for child abuse is the child’s safety. A child who is abused or neglected, can suffer from the damage that is done psychologically is severe enough among children because it can create depression and even suicidal intentions among those who suffer.
From 2001 to 2010 child fatalities have outnumbered combined military deaths by almost 10,000. In the ten years children deaths reached 15,510 compared to the 5,877 soldiers who were fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. During 2010 1,560 children lost their
