#ChildAbuse #ChildNeglect #DrugAbuse #ChildrenUnfed #BestPaperEverA student from my class wrote this (which I evaluated), even with errors, I would give her an A+.:
"Child Abuse: The effect it has on Society"
Le’Vedra Vincent (This is her paper, not mine.)
October 19th, 2014
Composition II
National American University
Draft #1
"In 2009, the (US Department of Health and Human Services, (2010)) reported that 1,770 children,, or 2.34 per out of every 100,000 children, in the U.S. died as a result of abuse or neglect. Most of these deaths were caused by a parent or a caregiver (Kunz and Bahr, 1996).
Although these numbers are most likely higher (Ewigman et al., 1993; Herman-Giddens et al., 1999)., Tthere are a lot of many reasons why a child becomes abused or neglected, such things are as active assault/ and shaking, or passive behavior such as neglect/ and lack of supervision). As a society, I don’t think that we look at child abuse as serious as we should. In the United States, the strongest risk factor is age. Children, under the age of one are mostly likely to be killed easier. Numbers show that in 2009, 36.7% of the 1,770 children died from abuse and neglect, while 35.8% died from neglect only, and 23.2% died from physical abuse. In 2009, data collected shows that 53% of victims were male, while in 1976 and 1985, 55% of victims were male (Kunz and Bahr, 1996).
The majority of those that are causing the abuse are parents. The National U.S. statistics reported that 75% of fatalities in 2009 were caused by the biological parent(s). For 32% of those numbers, the crime was committed by the mother or the mother and someone else, 16% of the crimes were committed by the father or the father and someone else, and 22.5% were committed by both parents., Wwhile the rest were committed by a caregiver or someone that was not related to the child or the parents (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). Most of those that cause the abuse toward a child are under the age of 30 (Chance and Scannapieco, 2002; Herman-Giddens et al., 2003; Kunz and Bahr, 1996)
A small handful of studies have shown that those that cause the abuse have a mental illness (Fein, 1979; Korbin, 1987; Margolin, 1990), especially among older children (Lucas et al., 2002). There are major things reasons that are contributing factors that can cause a person to begin abusing a child. Such things reasons are moving, unemployment, and birth of a child are present in many of the families who fatally abuse or maltreat a child (Lucas et al, 2002). A study shows ed that 26% of families that experience ing a CMF, are unemployed, 40% of the families had moved within the last year and, the families had a high degree of mobility (Anderson et al., 1983). Children who live with non-family members are ten times more likely to become CMF (Child Maltreatment Fatalities) than those children that live with both biological parents (Stiffman et al., 2002).
Myths and facts about child abuse and neglect are never spoken within society because then it becomes an issue that needs to be dealt with. Some myths that our society believes are 1.) it’s only abuse if it’s violent. Wrong fact is that physical abuse is only one type of abuse of a child. Neglect and emotional abuse is just as damaging to a child as physical abuse, 2.) only bad people abuse their children. The truth is as easy as it is to say that the people who abuse their children are “bad”, not every abuser intentionally plans on abusing their child. Many have been abused or victims of some sort of abuse themselves., Aand some may be dealing with a mental illness. 3) Child abuse doesn’t happen in “good” families. This is a big misconception because abuse can happen in any type of family. Although, a family may seem like they have the perfect life on the outside, they could be hiding a terrible story behind closed doors. 4) most child abusers are strangers. This is one that society needs to understand, that most abusers are family members or someone close to the family. 5) Abused children always grow up to be abusers. Yes, it’s true that most of children that are abused may become abusers themselves, : although on the other hand, some of those that are abused, in adulthood they overcome that situation and never abuse anyone because of the motivation to protect their children against what they have gone through.
Emotional child abuse is one that is over-looked in society because we believe that if it isn’t violent then “how bad could it have been?”. Emotional abuse on toward a child can cause as much pain and hurt as physical abuse. Some things that are considered to be emotional abuse are: 1) Constant belittling, shaming, and humiliating a child, 2) Calling names and making negative comparisons to other children, 3) Telling a child he or she is “no good,” “worthless,” “bad,” or “a mistake,” 4) Limited physical contact with the child, such as no hugging, kisses, or the signs of affection.
Child neglect is one of the most common types of child abuse. This is where when a parent or caregiver fails to provide the child with their basic needs. This is but not limited to clothing, food, hygiene, or even supervision. Although, this is a common type of child abuse, it may not be easy to spot. Sometimes, a parent might become physically or mentally unstable or unable or unstable to care for of the child. Things that may cause this is a serious injury, untreated depression, or anxiety. Alcohol or drugs can also play a part in the misjudgment of the parent or caregiver in the safety of a child. Even though older children might not show signs of neglect, they usually have become complacent and are able to show a competent face to the world.
Physical child abuse seems to be the only type of abuse that our society talks about. Physical abuse is when a parent or caregiver causes physical harm or injury to a their child. This may be a deliberate act to cause harm to the child, but this is not always the case. One thing that has recently become a form of child abuse is hitting you children with a belt, or physical punishment. A lot large amount of parents or caregivers that hit or abuse their children claim that the abuse itself was a form of discipline. Even though that may be the case, there is a big difference between abuse and disciplining your children.
The warning signs of a child that is being abused may be hard to spot or sometimes it’s is even easily noticeable. Some of the signs that people should look for are: 1) Excessively withdrawn, fearful, or and anxiety ous about doing something wrong, 2) Doesn’t seem to be unattachment ed to the parent or caregiver, 3) Acting s either inappropriately with an adult, and 4) Is a Always being “on alert” or watchful, as if waiting for something bad to happen.
Child abuse Psychologically ruins a child, and a child that has been abused may in their adulthood develop psychiatric problems in their adulthood. For example, A a study that was done by Dante Cicchetti found that 80% of abused and maltreated infants exhibited symptoms of disorganized attachment [72][73]. There is little or limited evidence that children that have a disability are more likely to be abused than non-disabled children.
One of the things reasons that play a part in child abuse that no one speaks of, is drug abuse. Drug abuse plays are major part and factor to child abuse. A U.S study found that parents with the drug addiction to of alcohol, cocaine, and heroin, were much more likely to mistreat their children, and were also much more likely reject court-ordered services and treatments [124]. Another U.S study found that those parents that use alcohol were more likely to cause physical abuse, while a parent that is on cocaine is likely to cause sexual abuse [125]. In 2009, CBS News reported that the amount of children abused in the United States had increased during the economic recession [129]. This shows that even something that a person cannot control can cause them to do something that they may have never done if the situation was different. Even though child abuse isn a large problem in the United States, we are not the only country that has a problem with child abuse. Child abuse is an International phenomenon. The difference in cultural perspective, plays a huge role in the treatment of children. In the countries of Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, and Moldova, in these countries 33%, 42%, 18%, and 43% of their children reported at least one type of child abuse [135]. Three-out-of-four of these countries’ drug abuse by the parent was considerably correlated with the present of child abuse [134].
The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child File- which is a federally funded project. F shows that from the years of 2004 to 2011, the data showed that nearly 5.7 million children during that time frame had experienced maltreatment. Out of those cases, between 70% and 75% involved neglect (Wildeman). In the United States, more than 12% of children will experience a confirmed case of maltreatment, neglect, or abuse by the time they turn 18. Among African-American and Native American children, the number is larger. 1 in 5 black children and 1 in 7 Native American children experienced maltreatment during that time (published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics).
After reading and looking through all the articles that I could find, I have come to accept and understand that child abuse is a big problem and not much is being done. I mean yYes, we have the support groups and the websites that are out there, but I’m talking about society itself. I have to after comeing across an article that stated what can and what could be done to stop or prevent a child from being abused. For me I think the only way we as a society can slow this down is to become more involved., I’m not just talking about parents, but teachers, bus drivers, counselors, friends, neighbors, anyone who thinks a child may be in an abusive situation. Stop and ask, sometimes just asking can make a world of a difference, for it could save a life.
General Statistics
• A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds
• More than four children die every day as a result of child abuse.1
• It is estimated that between 50-60% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates. 3
• Approximately 70% of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4. 1
• More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way. 4
• Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.
• About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse. 5
• In at least one study, about 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder. 13
• The estimated annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States for 2008 is $124 billion. 6
• Top ↑
Child Abuse & Criminal Behavior
• 14% of all men in prison and 36% of women in prison in the USA were abused as children, about twice the frequency seen in the general population. 7
• Children who experience child abuse & neglect are about 9 times more likely to become involved in criminal activity. 5
• Top ↑
Child Abuse Consequences
• Abused children are 25% more likely to experience teen pregnancy. 5
• Abused teens are more likely to engage in sexual risk taking, putting them at greater risk for STDs. 5
• Top ↑
Child Abuse & Substance Abuse
• One-third to two-thirds of child maltreatment cases involve substance use to some degree. 11
• In one study, children whose parents abuse alcohol and other drugs were three times more likely to be abused and more than four times more likely to be neglected than children from non-abusing families. 11
• As many as two-thirds of the people in treatment for drug abuse reported being abused or neglected as children. 9
• More than a third of adolescents with a report of abuse or neglect will have a substance use disorder before their 18th birthday, three times as likely as those without a report of abuse or neglect.12"
References:
"Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/…/study-1-in-8-american-children-will…
Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/…/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm
Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse
Retrieved from http://web.b.ebscohost.com.nauproxy01.national.edu/…/pdfvie…
Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/…/abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect.htm
Retrieved from http://library.national.edu/"