The Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect

The long term consequence of Child abuse and neglect is the development of severe
psychiatric problems in the child and later, if left untreated, the adult. Children who
suffer abuse at the hands of any person in whose care or company they are will
develop negative emotions such as guilt, anger, fear and a sense of betrayal. They
are unable to learn to express or deal with these emotions as they feel they need to
suppress them in order to survive. The inability to express these emotions in a
healthy manner results in problems with extremely low self esteem, controlling
aggression and their ability to learn as their cognitive development is inhibited.
They lack trust in people so they are unable to confide in anyone who might be able
to help them and on their own they are unable to understand the emotions they are
experiencing. Abused children have a greater likelihood of juvenile delinquency than
their well treated peers as well as more chance of committing crime in adulthood. As
these children grow older there is a possibility that they will exhibit the same traits that
their abusers did as they have not learned affirmative emotions, though many abused
children do grow up to be well adjusted adults.

Child abuse and neglect occurs in widely varied circumstances in all socioeconomic
levels of society. There is an increased possibility of abuse in households where
there is substance abuse of either drugs or alcohol or where there is a great deal of
stress such as poverty, divorce, sickness or disability and job loss. Abuse and
neglect also occurs where there is a lack of parental skill for example in the case of
teenage parents or when the cycle of abuse has not been broken. This infers that
when there is no counselling for a child who has been abused or neglected there is a
high possibility that that child will grow up to become an abuser too. This cycle is
prevalent in all sectors of society and it is paramount that it be broken in order to
protect children from this preventable harm.

There are varied types of action that can be taken within communities to help combat
chid abuse. Ideally child abuse and neglect should be prevented before it can occur.
This could be tackled by initiating family support programs and parental education
classes. The aim of these would be to educate people in proper care of children, alert
them to what constitutes abuse and neglect, and offer counselling where it is needed
to attempt to break the abuse cycle. There could also be a system set up whereby
people could report child abuse anonymously so that they do so rather than not due
to fear of consequences for themselves.

In circumstances where the probability of abuse is high, in that a person or persons
match certain criteria prevalent in abusive or neglectful people, it would help to have
them visited by social workers who could evaluate the situation and recommend when
monitoring is required or when children need to be removed from the environment
etc.; this needs to be an ongoing exercise provided for the communities by the government.

Strict measures must be taken by institutions, and the governing bodies thereof, that
are responsible for children, such as schools, creches, orphanages, foster homes and
adoption agencies, to ensure that those who come into contact with children, for
whatever reason, are thoroughly screened in such a manner that there is no doubt
about their character with regards to possible abusive tendencies.

Parents should be educated about the dangers of allowing children out on their own
or with unknown persons in order to limit the danger that the children are exposed to.
Children should also be made aware of and be taught how to handle situations such
as a lift offered by a stranger, what to do if they are solicited by someone, and who to
call if they feel vulnerable or threatened.

Through education and careful screening and monitoring of those responsible for the
children in our communities we can begin to combat child abuse and neglect in
society.