Child Abuse Is A Prevalent Problem

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Child abuse is a prevalent problem that exists globally. “Reports of infanticide, mutilation, abandonment and other forms of violence against children date back to ancient civilizations” (Bensel, Rheinberger & Radbill, 1997, pg. 3). “Nevertheless, the issue did not receive widespread attention by the medical profession or the general public until 1962, with the publication of a seminal work, The battered child syndrome.” (Kempe et al., 1997, pg. 18). There are many different types of child abuse; the World Health Organization (1999) states:
Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.
Abusive Adults and Children
When thinking about who harms a child, it seems appropriate that the common answer would be an immoral person. Actually, some adults do not realize they are harming their children. Many abusive parents or adults tend to be victims themselves and they continue the cycle of abuse because they do not know of any other way, or they have not been shown a different way to parent. Many abusive parents and adults may also suffer from mental health issues or possible substance abuse issues, which in the long run will affect positive parenting, especially if they are not taking care of their own personal healthy needs first. “The data specifically related to child abuse and neglect pointed out that 28% of the adults indicated they were physically abused; 21% sexually abused; 15% emotionally neglected; 11% emotionally abused; and 10% physical...

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...ing curriculum for parents who are aggressive with their children, we are essentially reducing the cycle of abuse, reducing the amount of families that are involved with social services, reducing juvenile delinquency rates, lowering substance abuse among adolescents and reducing rates of teenage pregnancy. We are making a change in our community by showing families who know no other way to discipline but with anger and aggression, that there is an alternative and healthy way to get through to your children so that they grow up into successful, well rounded adults. Nurturing parenting should be mandatory for all parents, grandparents, aunt and uncles, for anyone raising children so that our children are given a chance in this world without succumbing to abuse. “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

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