Child Abuse

  “Hello there! I’m here to provide you with a bit of information on what child abuse is, its various facets, and the Indian laws relevant to this abuse. What you, as a survivor, are experiencing, post confronting a traumatic experience is normal. What you, as a bystander, are going through while supporting a survivor is absolutely okay and typical too!  If you need additional resources or just someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to The Neeti Project."

Written By: Megha Kishore

What is Child Abuse?

Child Abuse, also known as child maltreatment, includes all types of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect, negligence and commercial or other forms of exploitation of a child. It results in actual or potential harm to the child’s health, survival, development or dignity. It occurs in the context of a relationship with an adult who is responsible for the child, who is supposed to be a trusted source for the child, or holds power over the child (Violence against children - World Health Organization).

What is the Prevalence of Child Abuse Globally and in India?

• Child Abuse is a global issue, and it leads to long-term consequences.
• Studies reveal that 20% of women and 10 % of men were sexually abused as children.
• 25-50% of children are physically abused.
• Many children undergo emotional abuse and are subjected to homicide.
• International studies showed that 3 out of 4 children, between the ages 2 to 4, undergo either physical or psychological abuse through their parents or caregivers
• Asian countries fall under high population density, poverty, cast and economic differences, political instability and fewer legislations and jurisdiction for child labor and child exploitations.
• A census report in 2011, showed that 470 million of India’s population are below 18 years of age. Most children were subjected to one form of abuse.
• In 2020, more than 47,000 cases were registered for Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
• There are still 1,70,271 child abuse cases pending under trial.
• Crimes against children increased in India by 16.2% between 2020 and 2021, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data (Child Maltreatment, 2022) (Child Abuse, n.d.) (National Health Portal of India, n.d.) (Jameel, 2022) (Press Trust of India, 2022) (“Violence against children - World Health Organization”).

What Causes Adults to Abuse Children? 

1. Parents or elders having a history of child abuse or neglect during their childhood are more likely to abuse children.

2. People who are under the influence of substances or are diagnosed with substance use disorder are more likely to abuse children.

3. Very poor parent - child relationships can lead to parents abusing their children.

4. Elders or people above 18 years who have physical or mental health issues like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder etc. are more likely to abuse children.

 
5. Unemployment, illiteracy, socio-economic problems, financial stress, or medical issues can lead to child abuse.

 
6. Lack of resources to understand child development and needs, no support from family members and minimalistic parenting skills can lead to adults abusing children.

 
7. Low self-esteem of the adult can lead them to perpetrate child abuse to exert power.

 
8. Parental crisis that includes domestic violence, relationship turmoil or even separation can lead to the child in the dysfunctional family being abused.

 
9. Social reasons such as general preference of boys could also lead to the selective neglect of girls leading to their abuse. (Holland, 2018)

Are There Different Types of Child Abuse?

YES.

1. Physical Abuse: This form of abuse stems from an intention to hurt a child by exerting one’s physical strength. This causes injuries to the child as he/she is either hit, beaten, shook, burnt, kicked, suffocated, etc. This can lead to short-term to long-term complications for the child.

2. Sexual Abuse: The child is forced into involuntary sexual acts. Most of children are raped, fondled, and forced into other explicit activities.

3. Emotional Abuse: This form of abuse stays with the child throughout his/her life if not provided proper treatment. It rattles the self-esteem and emotional well-being of the child.

4. Neglect: This is in accordance with parental negligence. The children are abused for their basic resources and are neglected of their primary needs like food, clothing, and shelter. (Child Maltreatment, 2022) (Child Abuse, n.d.) (National Health Portal of India, n.d.).

Does Child Abuse Effect the Child?

ABSOLUTELY.

Child Abuse can lead to:

• mood disorders
• psychological issues
• physical and reproductive adversities
• psycho-somatic problems
• low morale
• suicidal ideation
• sleep disorders
• personality disorders
• recurrent infections (Rathaur et al., 2021)


Which Children are at Greater Risk of Confronting Abuse?

It is crucial to understand that abused children are victims. They are not to be blamed for the abuse they face or have faced. Certain risk factors have been identified where certain children are more prone to abuse.

1. Children are either below 4 years of age or an adolescent are more likely to confront abuse.
2. Children who fail to live up to the expectations of the family are more likely to confront abuse.
3. Children who have special needs or have physical deformities are more likely to confront abuse.
4. Children who are born in low-income families are more likely to confront abuse.
5. Children born in families who don't want to raise kids or don't want a girl child are more likely to confront abuse.
5. Children who belong to the queer community are more likely to confront abuse (Rathaur et al., 2021).

How Can You Identify if a Child is Being Abused?

Physical Abuse:

• Unexplained injuries on the body of a child
• Babies who have not achieved their developmental milestones (cruising, crawling)
• Babies below 1 year who have physical injuries or fractures.
• Cigarette marks, skin abrasions and imprints are also red flags on the child.

Emotional Abuse:

• The child can have cognitive, motor and language delays.
• Babies shows delayed development with persistent crying.
• Toddlers develop apathy and are either fearful or violent.
• School kids show symptoms of bed wetting, absenteeism, and soiling (pooping in their pants).
• Adolescents inflict self-harm, aggression, alienation, depression, and rebellious behavior

Sexual Abuse:

In most cases, children do not verbally complain about such experiences and they typically come to light when the child is identified in pornographic material, the child becomes pregnant, or the child is diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease with unclear explanations. 

• The child's head, face, and mouth should be thoroughly examined since injuries in these areas account for around 60% of the lesions noted.
• Vaginal bleeding, itching, discharge, or rectal bleeding from the child could be important clues and should result in further investigation.
• Children exposing excessive awareness about sexual activities which is unexpected of that age or enacting sexualized behavior should also be considered seriously.

How Can You Help and Approach Child Abuse?

• Child abuse is a sensitive issue and must be handled with care and diligence.
• Children may have varied personal experiences ranging from secrecy, helplessness, entrapment, and accommodation.
• Victims of child abuse undergo child abuse accommodation syndrome - victim attempts to accept the situation and hold themselves responsible for the conditions they are experiencing. They accommodate themselves with the situation. Due to which, they feel shame, embarrassment, guilt, and punishment which leads to delayed disclosure (Understanding Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome, n.d.).
• A good rapport, sense of comfort and support must be offered.
• Assurance, patient listening, and confidentiality must be promised.
• Any injury or medical finding must be carefully noted, measured, recorded, and drawn on a body map and photographed with consent.
• Interactions between the child and parents must be noted.
• History regarding the child's siblings if any must be noted and their protection should also be ensured.
• A meeting with respective social worker, health visitor, police, general practitioner, pediatrician, teachers, and lawyers must be convened to draw a child protection plan.

 
What Laws are Relevant to Child Abuse in India?

• Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) is an act framed by the Indian parliament in 2012.
• It is a gender neutral act and encompasses all kinds sexual activities perpetrated on children including sexual intercourse, non-penetrative sexual assault, sexual harassment, using the child for pornographic purposes, and trafficking of children for sexual purposes.
• There are further provisions in this act to preserve confidentiality and to conduct trial via camera.
• It also instructs special courts for speedy trials.
• Failure to report a case by a clinician is also punishable with 6 years of imprisonment and a fine under section 21 of the POCSO act.
• If a doctor or a hospital staff is involved in rape , a 7 year punishment will be given to the offender. (Rathaur et al., 2021)

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References

Child maltreatment. (2022). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment

Child maltreatment (child abuse) | National Health Portal Of India. (n.d.). Retrieved on October 30, 2022, from https://www.nhp.gov.in/disease/paediatric/child-maltreatment-child-abuse

Holland, K. (2018). Understanding the Causes of Child Abuse. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/causes-of-child-abuse

Jameel, T. (2022). The News Minute | News. The News Minute. Retrieved from https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/crimes-against-children-increases-162-child-sexual-abuse-cases-go-167363

Press Trust of India. (2022). Over 47,000 Child Abuse Cases Filed In 2020: Government. NDTV.com. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/over-47-000-child-abuse-cases-filed-in-2020-government-3206642

Rathaur, V., Paul, V., Bhat, N., Sananganba, R., Ittoop, A., & Pathania, M. (2021). Child abuse: A social evil in Indian perspective. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 10(1), 110. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1862_20

Understanding Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome (CSAAS). (n.d.). Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.cacilawyer.com/understanding-child-sexual-abuse-accommodation-syndrome-csaas.html