WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND PREVALENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

This page helps you to observe the signs and indicators of a child who may be experiencing or likely to experiencing abuse and neglect. In no circumstances, should the signs of child abuse/neglect be taken on a face value, you must question the child/ren, parent/guardian. If you suspect that a child is at risk of harm or immediate danger, you should intervene by referring the issue to the Children’s Social Care or the Police. (See Child helpline for further information)Under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) 1989 and the UK’s Children’s Act 1989, the common definition of Child maltreatment states that “the physical and mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under the age of 18 by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened constitute child abuse and neglect.
Every child has the right to be safe and protected from all forms of abuse and neglect. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility whether a child needs to be safeguarded at home, school or within their communities.

Understanding the importance and process of providing early help to a child will prevent the issue from escalating and avoid any harm or damage from occurring. It is better to put the needs of a child first than any relationship with an adult.

PREVALENCE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Child abuse and neglect is a global problem regardless of a high, middle or low income country, with a life time consequences. Child abuse and neglect is complex, the exact rate of children experiencing abused and neglect can never be determined by any statistics in any nation or community due to the diversity of culture and beliefs in the definition of child abuse and neglect. Most abuse and neglect occurs within the family home and remains unreported. 90 percent of child abuse is committed by the child’s parents or guardians, who were themselves abused as children or developed insecurity from their childhood. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 1 in every 4 adults revealed having been physically abused as a child, 1 in 5 women compared to 1 in 13 men have been sexually abused as a child (WHO, 2016) Child Maltreatment.

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