Child Abuse What is Child Abuse? Any act, or failure to act, that endangers a child’s physical or emotional health and development. Someone is abusive is they fail to nurture a child, physically injures a child, or relates sexually to a child.

Child Abuse Physical Abuse Beating, slapping, hitting. Pushing, shaking, kicking, throwing. Pinching, biting, choking, hair-pulling. Burning with cigarettes, scalding with water. Severe physical punishment. Physical punishment for correction, without intent of injury, is not abuse.

Child Abuse Sexual Abuse Touching or kissing a child’s genitals. Making a child touch an adult’s genitals. Forcing a child to undress. Performing sexual acts in front of a child. Telling sexual jokes. Showing pornography to a child. Commercial exploitation of children.

Child Abuse Emotional Child Abuse Attitudes, behaviors, or failure to act that interferes with a child’s mental health or social development. Yelling, screaming, frightening, bullying. Humiliating, name-calling, negative comparisons. Lack of affection. Habitual blaming. Extreme forms of punishment. Exposure to violence.

Child Abuse Rates of Victimization Approximately 900,000 children are abused in the U.S. each year. Approximately 12 children per 1000 are victims of child abuse. During the past few years, rates of victimization have been declining.

Child Abuse Characteristics of Victims Children from birth to three years of age have the highest rates of victimization (16/1000). Girls are more likely to be victims than boys. African-American, Pacific-Islander, and American Indian children have the highest rates of victimization (17- 19/1000). White children (10.7/1000) and Hispanic children (10.4) have lower rates of victimization.

Child Abuse Characteristics of Perpetrators Approximately 80 percent of perpetrators are the parents. Women comprise about 58 percent of perpetrators. Female perpetrators, mostly mothers, tend to be younger than male perpetrators, mostly fathers. Of the parents who maltreated children, less than 3 percent committed sexual abuse, while 63 percent committed neglect.

Child Abuse Recognizing Child Abuse Burns, marks, bruises, welts, scars. Resistance to going home, fear of adults. Inappropriate clothing (to hide abuse). Apathy, depression, hostility, difficulty concentrating. Inappropriate interest or knowledge of sexual acts, seductiveness. Dirty, unbathed, extreme hunger. Apparent lack of adult supervision.

Child Abuse Negative Consequences of Child Abuse Low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, hostility. Eating disorders. Relationship difficulties, alienation, withdrawal, personality disorders. Problems with school work, delinquency, teen pregnancy, suicide attempts, substance abuse.

Child Abuse Prevention Programs Early childhood intervention. Home visitation. Parenting programs. Family strengthening and support. Youth development programs. Shelters. Welfare assistance.