Understanding and Addressing Five Forms of Child Abuse

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Child abuse is a very serious problem, and many people have failed to help correct this issue. Child abuse comes in five different forms: Neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and medical abuse. Sadly, millions of children are exposed to all five forms of abuse during their childhood. Neglecting a child is when a person does not provide a child with his everyday needs. Physical abuse is leaving bruises, broken bones, and other marks on a child. Emotional abuse is when a parent verbally assaults their child resulting in the child forgetting his self-worth. Sexual abuse or molestation of a child is when a person touches a child inappropriately and forces them to perform sexual acts with them. Medical abuse is when a child is …show more content…

After being abused, a person may feel like they are living in their worst nightmare. A child who is old enough to understand the abuse when it happened will always remember it for the rest of her life. Some abuse victims may begin doing drugs to help them cope with, or try to forget the abuse. It is also very common that teenagers who are being abused at home will run away to find help and feel safe. Children love and trust their parents from their time of birth, but once a parent abuses them all sense of love and trust will fade towards any person. Being abused could possibly ruin the chance of getting married and falling in love because a person they loved hurt them the most. Many abuse victims enroll in counseling classes to help them cope with everyday life and to find a form of peace. Children who were neglected must see doctors on a regular to help cure possible malnutrition. Those who survive being abused are very fortunate because “. U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) studies show that five children will die every day because of child abuse or neglect” (Child Abuse). For example, Marchella Pierce was a four years old girl who was being abused by her mother and grandmother in Brooklyn, she was found tied to her bed and deceased; Marchella Pierce guardians made her overdose on adult …show more content…

If child abuse was corrected, many children would still be alive and many children would still be healthy. Authorities have tried to enforce different methods to try to end child abuse, but it is clear these methods have not worked. If a teacher notices any bruises, or if a child tells the teacher they are being abused the teacher must report it immediately. When a parent suspects that her child is being abused by a baby sitter or nanny they are required to report it and keep the child away from the baby sitter while the case is being investigated. Doctors are also required by law to report any signs of abuse to authorities if they notice anything unusual during their examination. During an oral exam a dentist can easily identify sexual abuse because “If a gag is inserted into a child’s mouth for an extended period, the teeth will begin to turn grayish in color and the corner of the mouth will become bruised” (Fisher-Owens). These methods are minor compared to the newer methods to end child

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