child rights cambodia prostitution
8 years old, female – Domestic violent. (Phnom Penh-Cambodia)


Sexual abuse and exploitation of children

Physical abuse of a child is defined as those acts of commission by a caregiver that cause actual physical harm or have the potential for harm. (Definition: World Health Organisation)

Physical abuse is physical injury (ranging from minor bruises to severe fractures or death) as a result of punching, beating, kicking, biting, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, hitting (with a hand, stick, strap, or other object), burning, or otherwise harming a child. Such injury is considered abuse regardless of whether the caretaker intended to hurt the child.

Some other specific types of physical child abuse are:
  • Shaken Baby Syndrome – Shaking a baby or toddler can cause serious head injuries.
  • Munchausen by Proxy Syndrome - Inducing medical illness in a child or wrongly convincing others that a child is sick is both dangerous and abusive.
  • Drug use during pregnancy – Drug and alcohol use during pregnancy or lactation can be harmful to a child, leading to problems such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
Is Physical Punishment the Same As Physical Abuse?

Physical abuse is an injury resulting from physical aggression. Physical punishment is the use of physical force with the intent of inflicting bodily pain, but not injury, for the purpose of correction or control. As you can see, physical punishment can easily get out of control and become physical abuse. However, physical punishment itself is also an inappropriate way of educating children.

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:
  • Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes.
  • Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school.
  • Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home.
  • Shrinks at the approach of adults.
  • Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver.
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:
  • Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child’s injury.
  • Describes the child as “evil,” or in some other very negative way.
  • Uses harsh physical discipline with the child.
  • Has a history of abuse as a child.


Homicide and deadly abuse

According to the World Health Organization, there were an estimated 57 000 deaths attributed to homicide among children under 15 years of age in 2000. Global estimates of child homicide suggest that infants and very young children are at greatest risk, with rates for the 0–4-year-old age group more than double those of 5–14-year-olds.

The risk of fatal abuse for children varies according to the income level of a country and region of the world. For children under 5 years of age living in high-income countries, the rate of homicide is 2.2 per 100 000 for boys and 1.8 per 100 000 for girls. In low- to middle-income countries the rates are 2–3 times higher – 6.1 per 100 000 for boys and 5.1 per 100 000 for girls. The highest homicide rates for children under 5 years of age are found in the WHO African Region – 17.9 per 100 000 for boys and 12.7 per 100 000 for girls. The lowest rates are seen in high-income countries in the WHO European, Eastern Mediterranean and Western Pacific Regions.

Among individual factors, age and sex play a significant part in victimization. Generally, young children are most at risk of physical abuse, whereas the highest rates of sexual abuse are among children who have reached puberty or adolescence. In most places, boys are the victims of beatings and physical punishment more often than girls, while girls are at higher risk of infanticide, sexual abuse, neglect and being forced into prostitution. Other factors that increase a child’s vulnerability to abuse include being raised by a single parent or by very young parents without the support of an extended family. Household overcrowding or the presence of other violent relationships in the home (for example, between parents) are also risk factors.

Research suggests that, in many places, women report using more physical punishment than men – probably because they spend the most time with their children. However, when physical violence leads to serious or fatal injury, men are more often the perpetrators. Men are also far more likely to be the perpetrators of sexual abuse. Some of the factors that increase the likelihood of a parent or other caregiver abusing a child include having unrealistic expectations about child development, poor impulse control, stress and social isolation. Many studies also suggest that child abuse is related to poverty and to the lack of ‘‘social capital’’ – the social networks and neighbourhood relationships that have been shown to protect children.

References:
Helpguide.org
Child Welfare Information Gateway

Definition + Table:
WHO: World report on violence and health, Chapter 3, Child abuse and neglect by parents and other caregivers


 
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