Innumerable studies show that abuse and neglect negatively affect a child’s growth and development. Here’s what you need to know about the effects of child maltreatment and things you can do to help.
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Innumerable studies show that abuse and neglect negatively affect a child’s growth and development. Here’s what you need to know about the effects of child maltreatment and things you can do to help.
Often, when we picture an abused child, we imagine a small body with bruises. However, physical abuse is just one type of child maltreatment. B
elow are the four types of child abuse:
According to the World Health Organization, the abuse and neglect a child under the age of 18 experiences is called child maltreatment.
The physical effects of child maltreatment are often immediate. Depending on how an adult hurts a child, you might see bruises, restraint marks, or even open wounds.
However, experts say child maltreatment can also result in future health problems, like:
A child who experiences abuse and neglect may develop poor mental and emotional health. They are at a higher risk of anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric disorders.
Reports also mentioned that adults who had adverse childhood experienced had a higher incidence of suicide attempts than those who did not.
Besides poor mental and emotional health, the negative effects of childhood maltreatment could also include:
Even after the maltreatment ends, children who experienced it might have unhealthy or risky behaviors that could harm them and the people around them.
For instance, child maltreatment might trigger:
The weight of child abuse and neglect is heaviest on the victims. Still, experts highlight that society also “pays the price.”
Case in point, should an abused child grow into an adult with violent tendencies, they might hurt others, cause problems at work, or commit crimes that affect other people.
For this reason, we must step up if we suspect child maltreatment.
According to the Department of Justice, it is our civic and moral duty to report a case of child abuse and neglect. In fact, some people, like teachers, heads of hospitals, and barangay officials, are required by law to report child abuse cases.
Please note that you can report a child abuse case to:
The effects of child maltreatment don’t end with the incident. Often, the negative impacts follow the child into their adulthood. For this reason, we must take action if we know a case of child abuse.
Learn more about Other Child Health Issues here.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Types of child abuse
https://www.qld.gov.au/community/getting-support-health-social-issue/support-victims-abuse/child-abuse/what-is-child-abuse/child-abuse-types
Accessed May 28, 2021
Effects of child abuse and neglect for children and adolescents
https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/effects-child-abuse-and-neglect-children-and-adolescents
Accessed May 28, 2021
Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/long_term_consequences.pdf
Accessed May 28, 2021
Child maltreatment
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment
Accessed May 28, 2021
Child Protection Program
https://www.doj.gov.ph/child-protection-program.html
Accessed May 28, 2021
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