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Child abuse – what to look out for

September 3, 2014 By Dena Marshall Leave a Comment

A small child is playing with her doll

Physical Abuse

Behaviour of an
adult who abuses children

Behaviour of an
abused child

Physical indications
of child abuse

  • Complains that the child is difficult to control;
  • Little knowledge of child development.
  • Makes unrealistic demands, e.g. expects good bowel control at too early an age;
  • May indicate that child is prone to injuries. Lies about how the child was injured;
  • Gives contradictory explanations about how the child was injured;
  • Inappropriate or excessive use of medical service;
  • Seems unconcerned about the welfare of the child.
  • Cannot explain injuries, or gives inconsistent explanations;
  • Absconds;
  • Cringes or withdraws when touched;
  • Babies stare with empty expression, rigid carriage, on guard;
  • Extremely aggressive or withdrawn;
  • Seeks attention from anyone who cares;
  • Extremely compliant, tries to please others;
  • Becomes scared when other children cry;
  • Scared to go home after school. Scared of adults;
  • Normal activities arouse anxiety;
  • Vandalises things.
  • Injuries – bruises, cuts, burns, fractures;
  • Various injuries, various degrees of healing;
  • Various injuries over a period of time;
  • Head injuries on babies and pre-school children, e.g. cuts, bruises, burn marks, abrasions which cannot be satisfactorily explained;
  • Injuries such as fractures, abrasions, burns and bruises which cannot be explained;
  • Inappropriate clothing to cover the body.

Emotional Abuse

Behaviour of an
adult who abuses children

Behaviour of an
abused child

Physical indications
of child abuse

  • Blames the child for own problems and disappointments – child is seen as a scapegoat;
  • Continually expresses negative feelings about the child to other people and the child;
  • Conduct towards the child expresses continual rejection;
  • Withholds herself or himself from verbally or behaviourally expressing love to the child;
  • Continually trying to bribe, influence or terrify the child;
  • Continually trying to isolate the child, e.g. by prohibiting contact inside and outside the family.
  • Aggression, depression or extreme withdrawal;
  • Extreme compliance; too well-mannered, too neat, too clean;
  • Extreme attention- seeking;
  • Extreme control when she or he plays – suppresses own feelings.
  • Enuresis (bedwetting) and/or encopresis (soiling) for which there is no physical cause;
  • Continual psychosomatic complaints, e.g. headache, nausea, stomach pain;
  • Child does not grow and develop according to expectations.

Sexual Abuse

Behaviour of an
adult who abuses children

Behaviour of an
abused child

Physical indications
of child abuse

  • Exceptionally protective towards child and jealous;
  • Discourages contact with peer-group when there is no supervision;
  • Acts seductively towards child;
  • Indicates that the spouses have marital problems;
  • Abuses alcohol and/or drugs.
  • Sexual play with self, others and toys;
  • Sexual vocabulary and/or behaviour not age-appropriate;
  • Drawings or descriptions with sex theme not age-appropriate;
  • Strange, sophisticated or unusual sexual knowledge, e.g. flirtation;
  • Promiscuity and/or prostitution;
  • Continual absconding;
  • Fear of seduction by members of the opposite sex;
  • Unwilling to participate in certain activities;
  • Sudden deterioration in school progress;
  • Poor relations with peers;
  • Withdrawal, fantasising, uncommonly childish behaviour;
  • Crying without provocation;
  • Depression, attempted suicide.
  • Pain or unusual itching of genitals or in anal area;
  • Torn, stained or bloodstained underwear;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Injuries to genitals or anal area, e.g. bruises, swelling or infection;
  • Sexually transmitted diseases;
  • Difficulty in sitting or walking;
  • Regular urinary infection.
  • Throat irritations and/or soreness or mouth sores owing to forced oral sex.;

Neglect

Behaviour of an
adult who abuses children

Behaviour of an
abused child

Physical indications
of child abuse

  • Behaviour indicates rejection of the child, e.g. child is left in cot or bedroom for long periods of time;
  • Ignores the child’s loving approaches, refuses to hold the child’s hand or hold her or him close;
  • Indicates the child is unwelcome;
  • Indicates the child is difficult to care for, e.g. the child is ‘demanding’ and ‘difficult to feed’.
  • Listless and makes few or no demands, e.g. seldom cries;
  • Little or no interest in the environment;
  • Little or no movement, e.g. lies still in bed;
  • Does not react to strangers – attempts to stimulate her or him;
  • Shows little fear of strangers, e.g. does not react to them;
  • Begs or steals food;
  • Continually tired, listless or falling asleep;
  • Says that nobody at home looks after her or him;
  • Irregular attendance at school;
  • Destructive and aggressive;
  • Inappropriate clothing, poor personal hygiene, continually hungry;
  • Physical and medical needs don’t receive attention.
  • The child does not grow, and/or loses a lot of weight (though this may also indicate under-development. A medical examination is necessary to determine the case.)

The following physical characteristics are often present in neglected children:

  • Child is pale and emaciated;
  • Very little body fat in relation to build, e.g. folds on buttocks; skin feels like parchment owing to dehydration;
  • Constant vomiting and/or diarrhoea;
  • Developmental milestones not reached within normal age-ranges, e.g. neck still limp at 6 months, cannot walk at 18 months.

We welcome feedback, comments and questions on all of our articles.

This articles forms part of our Child Protection Policy.

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