Childhood physical abuse is alarmingly prevalent: Global scenario

The problem of child abuse has become increasingly evident all over the world.  

It is an appeal to world populace: please save your child from physical abuse and build strong global community because children are new human generation of planet.

Child physical abuse is an immense, persistent societal problem. Sexual abuse itself is grossly intrusive in the lives of children and is harmful to their normal psychological, emotional, and sexual development in ways, which no just or humane society can tolerate. CPS agencies also confirmed an estimated 1,215 child abuse and neglect related fatalities in 1995; 85% of these children were under the age of 5 at the time of their death.

In simple term, Child Physical Abuse is elaborated as non-accidental trauma or physical injury caused by punching, beating, kicking, biting, burning or otherwise harming a child, physical abuse is the most visible form of child maltreatment. Physical abuse also results from unsuitable or excessive physical discipline. A parent or caretaker in annoyance may be ignorant of the extent of force with which he or she strikes the child.

Major grounds of Child physical abuse:

There are numerous causes of Child physical abuse.  Caregivers and other adults abuse children

-      As a form of punishment or disciplinary action.

-      Lack of parenting support and abilities.

-      Mental illness is prime reason for childhood physical abuse. Some people may be mentally ailing even though they look like any other person and may be involved with abusive behaviour towards kids without realizing what they are doing.

-      Domestic violence of adults also results in mistreating kids. An angry father through his anger to children without any reason.

Other factors that causes childhood physical abuse are immaturity, unrealistic expectations, emotional problems, economic crisis, difficulty in relationships, depression, and other mental health problems.

Millions of children have been subjected to severe abuse such as punching or hitting with an object. Although extreme forms of abuse (e.g., burns) are easily identifiable, definitions of child physical abuse varies based on whether they consider endangerment or demonstrable harm, intent to harm or culpability of the offender, and cultural childrearing norms.

Statistical reports signified that many children suffer abuse every year around the globe, affecting all educational and socioeconomic levels, ethnicities, cultures, and religions. The most common form of child abuse in the United States is being left at home alone without adult supervision. According to statistical records released by UNICEF, over the past decade more than 20,000 American children are believed to have been killed in their own homes by family members. It is approximately four times the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and means that America has the worst record of child abuse in the developed world.

Child physical abuse is a substantial problem with tragic outcomes. Aside from the immediate risk of injury or death, maltreated children suffer from a host of psychological and behavioral problems including cognitive deficits.

Psychological Effects: Children who get abused often feel insulated, fearful and untrusting, and these immediate emotional effects can transform into lifelong concerns such as low self-esteem, depression and relationship difficulties. According to the CWIG, about 80 percent of young adults who were abused as children met the diagnostic criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder at age 21, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders and suicide.

Other psychological conditions related with abuse are panic disorder, dissociative disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and reactive attachment disorder. CWIG also reported that many children who are abused score lower than average on tests of cognitive ability, language development and academic achievement.

There are dangerous behavior impact of childhood abuse. Health reports indicated that abused and neglected kids are 25 percent more likely to experience problems such as delinquency, teen pregnancy and teen drug use and 11 times more likely to be arrested for criminal behavior as a juvenile. CWIG stated about 66 percent of people in drug treatment programs report being abused as children, and over 30 percent of abused and neglected kids eventually victimize their own children.

Prevention guidelines:

- Childhood physical abuse can be arrested through increasing public awareness efforts to educate the public about positive discipline as an alternative to spanking.

-  People must volunteer their time and get involved with other parents in their community. They must come forward to assist vulnerable children and their families.

- Discipline children thoughtfully but never be authoritarian when emotionally disturbed.

- It is better to teach children their rights. When children are taught they are special and have the right to be safe, they are less likely to think abuse is their fault, and more likely to report crook.

- To prevent Childhood physical abuse, it is necessary to know about this concept.  Physical and sexual abuse clearly constitute ill-treatment. Children can also be emotionally ill-treated when they are rejected, criticized, or continuously isolated. Therefore good care is important.

To wrap up, child physical abuse is not unintentional instead it is a deliberate act. And there is no excuse of such inhuman reactions to innocent child. Physical abuse is purposely hurting a child that has dangerous consequences such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts. It can be prevented through sincere efforts from generating awareness among people as well as enforcing strict laws for guilty.

It can be appreciated that USA has strict laws to protect the children from such abuse. 

Important: This article is an expression of writer and based on available information. Any resemblance is just a coincidence. Writer is not responsible