Module 4 - L5, Child Abuse

What is Physical Abuse?

in NZ: smacking (open hand) - illegal but NOT physical abuse

• Hitting (closed hand or solid object)

• Beating (repeated hitting)

• Shaking

• Burning

• Pinching

• Hair pulling

• Biting

• Kicking

What is Sexual Abuse? (Kelly et al. 1991)

Sexual abuse surveys of American College students

• some form of penetration or coerced/forced masturbation where the abuser was at least 5 years older

OR

• Any event/interaction that younger person has reported as unwanted/abusive before they were 18"

Neglect (definition, characteristics)

Physical

• Home environment

• CWBS (overcrowding, furniture, hygiene, clothing, sanitation)

Psychological

• Emotional and verbal responsibility of the mother

• Avoidance of punishment and restriction

• Maternal involvement

• variety in daily stimulation

  • Acceptance and affection

  • Parental approval

  • Parental expectations

  • Teaching stimulation

  • Warmth, engagement, structure

Environmental

• neighbourhood (crime, safety)

Child Abuse Death Rates

NZ = highest rate of 36 OECD countries

Double the rate of Australia, 3x rate of UK

Māori children over-represented in poverty and 2x more likely as non-Māori to be abused or neglected.

Oranga Tamariki Protection Notifications (Trends)

Post-2009, trends are steady. Became more acceptable to report family members committing child abuse.

U.S.A. Child Abuse Statistics

Children whose parents are substance abusers are 3x more likely to be abused and 4x more likely to be neglected.

Adults who had been abused as children more likely to abuse (shows a cycle).

24% under 1 years old, then reasonably even but decreases as child gets older

Majority of fatalities occur for children aged 0-3 years

Abuse type most likely to cause death = Neglect

80% of the time, parent is abuser (usually around 30-39 yrs old)

Child Abuse and Poverty

They are interconnected, if you want to eliminate child abuse - you should eliminate poverty and substance abuse

Gini Coefficient (measure of inequality in society) rises alongside abuse rates - direct correlation

NZ = biggest increase in gini coefficient (inequality) among OECD countries

Māori are overwhelmingly the poor ones in NZ AND also over-represented in child abuse statistics

Silverman, Reinherz, & Giaconia (Outcomes of PHYSICAL abuse at Age 21)

MALES:

Abuse = increased likelihood of:

• Depression

• PTSD

• Antisocial Behaviour

• Drug-Abuse Dependence

• 2 or more mental disorders

• Internalising/Externalising behaviour

FEMALES:

Abuse = increased likelihood of:

• Depression

• PTSD

• Antisocial

• 3 or more mental disorders

• suicide attempts

• Externalising behaviour

BOTH:

• increased likelihood of ALL measures of health problems

Silverman, Reinherz, & Giaconia (Outcomes of SEXUAL abuse at Age 21)

FEMALES

• Depression

• PTSD

• Antisocial behaviour

• Alcohol-Abuse Dependence

• 3 or more mental disorders

• Suicidal thoughts

• Suicide Attempts

Shaken Baby Syndrome

What is it?

• brain injury when baby violently shaken

• weak neck muscles, large heavy head

• brain bounces inside skull (bruising, swelling, tissue damage)

• can lead to permanent brain damage or death

Symptoms

Physical

• brain bleeding, retinal bleeding, damage to spinal cord, neck, ribs, bones

Behavioural

• extreme irritability, lethargy, poor feeding, breathing, convulsions, vomiting, pale or bluish skin

Usually younger than 2, sometimes up to age 5

Keran Henderson (March, 2005)

Child-minder accidentally shook a child to death

Facts/Statistics of Shaken Baby Syndrome

Prognosis

• much worse than accidental brain damage

• blindness

• mental disability (cerebral palsy, intellectual disability) - can be not evident before 6 years of age

American Academy of Pediatrics (2001)

• usually accompanies abuse (33 to 40% of cases have older brain injuries

• 15 to 38% mortality rate

• accounts for up to ½ of child abuse deaths

• permanently disables a 1/3rd (learning disabilities, seizures, speech problems, behaviour problems, cerebral palsy, visual disorders)

Direct costs of Child Abuse and Neglect (New York)

• Hospitalization/Medical examinations

• Chronic Health Problems

• Mental Health Care

• Child Protection

• Foster Care/Adoption

• Judicial System

TOTAL: 1 billion

Indirect Costs of Child Abuse (NYC)

• Special Education

• Juvenile Delinquency

• Adult Criminality

• Alcohol and Substance Abuse

• Domestic Violence

• Public Assistance

TOTAL: 1.3 billion

Expenditure on Child Abuse: New York

Total Cost: 2.4 million

Not a lot of public spending