child abuse and maltreatment

Child abuse and maltreatment

The review focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic issues posed by child abuse and neglect.Relevant professionals such as teachers,psychologists,social workers,nurses and medical professionals including physicians ought to make a descriptive report to authorities if she or he suspects that a child has been abused or neglected by a caretaker,even if the professional has not seen the child face to face.

Child abuse and maltreatment is a common issue for all of social strata of the recent social context but sex abuse is characteristic and specific among low income social groups.Many occasions are neglected or hidden due to inability of childhood whereas negligence and physical abuse of child shows an obvious hike in number for poor social contexts.In the common background, several forms of maltreatment s and sex abuses are directed to the same child as well as there is an increased vulnerability for retaliation of maltreatment s or sex abuse in the same family.The other common form of child abuse and negligence is based on infra-family  violence including domestic matrimonial violence and violence between siblings.
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Long term consequences of maltreatment makes social and emotional handicap.Peer groups are more vulnerable places for aggressive behavior of physically and emotionally abused children.Physically and emotionally abused children shows more troubled approach in the interpersonal relationships.They also shows most prominent depressive symptoms,symptoms of affect disorder,aggressive symptoms.They also have an increased vulnerability for anxiety disorders and problems with sexual functions as well as sex roles(such as erectile dysfunction).

On the other point of view, abused children shows increased tendency for substance abuses such as cannabis,heroine ,nicotine and liquor than the same age of healthy children who have grown in good and healthy environments.30% of such victims abuse their own children when they become adults.

Preliminary studies shows that the n euro-endocrine system,pain threshold ,learning and growth of such abused children have been influenced badly by physical and sex violence.Clandestine nature of child abuse due to their innocence and inability and lack of specific ,obvious signs makes the child abuse and maltreatment to be difficult in detection and notification.

child maltreatment shows categorically varied in 4 different types.

1. physical abuse

2. sexual abuse

3. emotional abuse

4. neglect




Child neglect is the most serious issue which makes a huge impact on the emotional structure of many children that is led to depression and ultimately suicidal attempts.Teenagers are estimated to be at twice the risk in suicidal attempts due to child negligence under age of 3.


On the review of  maltreatment or child abuse by clinicians where they make an en courageous and safe atmosphere that creates a clear disclosure and asking directly whether maltreatment is taking place in emphatically context.The content of a disclosure is an important sign of a child confidence,or emphatic understanding built by interviewer.such a authentic disclosure is incorporated with the elements of maltreatment s which has a predictable patterns.In sex abuses which usually involves in multiple episodes over time progressively, invasive activity, and some coercion of the victim to become involved and remain silent.

In the accidental sex abuse after the argument between the child and abuser, the disclosures are frequently delayed.A deliberate disclosure may be made by child if abuser have left from child's residence or vicer versa.when abuser turns away his attention from abuse child to another child, which may lead to deliberate disclosure.The context of the disclosure typically progresses from small tentative details through a stage of vacillation to a detailed coherent first person account.In the initial disclosure of quarter of children who sexually abused reviewed perpetrators 'confession or conviction.

Recanting is closely associated with pressure from family to protect perpetrator or over anxiety of the interviewer to prove or disprove the abuse has taken place.Children may feel guilt  and the responsibility for the abuse itself or fear of what happen to offender.In some instances, the child may seek the relief by changing the true story by himself.


S.M Anuradha Senarathna ( BSc (Hon's) PG Dip in sociology ---youths for good politics, sera idea blogspot.com