What are the 5 types of child abuse???

1. Physical abuse

2. Sexual abuse

3. Emotional abuse

4. Child Neglect

5. Child Exploitation e.g for labour or sex (a subset of 1-4)

1.) PHYSICAL ABUSE

Physical abuse is the ‘actual or potential’ physical harm perpetrated upon a child by an adult or other child. The person may not have intended to hurt the child, it may be the result of over disciplining or age inappropriate physical punishment.

Possible signs of physical abuse

1. Injuries not adequately explained including:

Fractures, bruises, burns, bite marks, slap marks, implement marks e.g. belt mark.

2. Body Marks:

 Grip marks , Slap marks, Bruising in unusual places e.g. bruises on ears, Teeth / bite marks.

3. Burns with outline, e.g. outline of an iron, Cigarette burns, Fractures or other unexplained injuries, Injuries which haven’t been treated properly and there is delay in seeking medical attention.

4.  Any injury to a child who isn’t mobile e.g. baby under 1 year, disabled child.

Behavioural signs of physical abuse

* Child appears frightened of others e.g. parent(s) or carer(s)

* Child doesn’t want to go home, or runs away

* Child flinches when approached or when someone

stretches a hand towards them

* Child reluctant to get undressed e.g. for games or sport

activity

* Child very passive or very aggressive

* Frozen watchfulness – child sits very still watching

what’s going on (waiting for the next hit)

* Equally could appear overly “happy” and “eager to please.

2.) Sexual Abuse

Definition of Sexual Abuse

• Involving, Forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities. Sexual Abuse may involve:

This may include, but is not limited to, rape, oral sex, penetration, or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching.

It may also include involving children in looking at, or producing sexual images, watching sexual activities and encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Definition of Child Sexual exploitation

• A form of sexual abuse that involves children being engaged in any sexual activity in exchange for money, gifts, food, accommodation, affection, status, or anything else that they or their family needs Child sexual exploitation Usually involves…

• It usually involves a child being manipulated or coerced, which may involve befriending children, gaining their trust, subjecting them to drugs and alcohol.

• The abusive relationship between victim and perpetrator involves an imbalance of power where the victim’s options are limited. It is a form of abuse that can be misunderstood by children and adults as consensual.

For example – bribing children during emergencies, organized networks of trafficking, in

exchange for protection in conflict zones etc.

Physical Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

* Child pregnancy

* Young children with age inappropriate sexual knowledge, e.g. penetration, ejaculation, oral sex

* Presence of sexually transmitted disease

* Repeated masturbation

* Explicit sexual drawings

* Pain, soreness or itching in the genital or anal areas or mouth

* Recurrent genital or urinary infections.

Behavioral signs of sexual abuse

* Young children acting out sexual behaviours, e.g. simulating intercourse, grabbing genitalia etc.

* Young children displaying sexually inappropriate. knowledge or behaviour.

* Persistent bedwetting, nightmares and sleep problems.

* Anorexia, bulimia, self harm or excessive ‘comfort’ eating

* Fear of a specific person

* Running away from home

* Substance abuse,

* Child having unexplained gifts, including money

* Children having ‘secrets’ that an adult says they are not allowed to tell.