April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month where organizations hold several workshops and day-to-day activities and preach about the importance of preventing child abuse from happening within the homes of their communities. Throughout April, communities are encouraged to raise awareness about the importance of preventing any form of child abuse. Non-profit organizations work towards helping children who face maltreatment, either from family members or loved ones by working together to implement effective strategies for supporting the families to prevent child abuse and neglect.

What are the Different Types of Child Abuse?

• Physical Abuse

• Emotional Abuse

• Sexual Abuse

• Medical Abuse

• Neglect

Is Child Abuse Prevalent in Our Communities?

• 1 in 7 children in the United States has experienced some sort of child abuse or neglect in the past year.

• In the U.S, nearly 700,000 children are abused each year.

• In 2018, approximately 1,770 children in the United States died due to abuse or neglect.

• Some of the most common forms of abuse children face include physical abuse, psychological abuse, or sexual abuse.

• In 2018, approximately 16% of abused children faced some sort of maltreatment.

• Both boys (48.6%) and girls (51%) face a similar rate of childhood abuse.

• According to Childhelp.org, a report of child abuse is made every ten seconds and five children die every day due to neglect or child abuse.

• A 2018 report on Child Maltreatment conducted by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, and the Children’s Bureau revealed that 76% of child abuse perpetrators were parents to their children.

What Are the Side-Effects of Child Abuse on the Victim?

Abuse can pose detrimental effects on a child’s mental and physical capabilities. Individuals who experience violence or abuse at a young age are 13% more likely to not graduate from high school. Adults who’ve experienced abuse as a child have more chances of suffering from mental health difficulties such as PTSD, depression, substance disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, or eating disorders. They are also more likely to engage in behaviors of high-risk such as alcohol or drug abuse and unprotected sex.

They are also more likely to suffer from a lack of overall good physical health and report experiencing facing many physical diseases such as arthritis, stroke, diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, heart diseases, arthritis, or strokes. A US meta-analysis on 78 total sizes of effects from 24 studies revealed that childhood abuse was substantially linked to an increase in respiratory, neurological, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular problems.

Time Won’t Heal Their Wounds

Unless an individual does not seek strong help from medical professionals, he has to live the rest of his life suffering from the bitterness of his wounds. The neurobiology of child abuse is quite complicated. It was revealed by a developmental neuropsychiatrist, Martin H. Teicher, in a study conducted on the neurobiology of child abuse, that shocking connections have been discovered between the various types of abuse and a decline in an individual’s overall brain development resulting in PTSD and panic attacks. Psychological trauma causes more than just long-lasting emotional wounds. It deteriorates a child’s emotional growth and mental well-being.

How To Recognize Signs of Child Abuse?

According to Mayo Clinic, some of the signs of recognizing child abuse are as follows:

• Withdrawal from usual activities and friends.

• Behavioral changes such as hyperactivity, anger, aggression, hostility, or changes in their school performance.

• Sudden loss in self-confidence, depression, or anxiety.

• Frequent absences from school.

• Defiant or rebellious behavior.

• Attempts at suicide or self-harm.

• Avoidance of certain situations such as riding the bus or refusing to go to school.

• Unexplained physical injuries such as burns, bruises, or fractures.

• Injuries not matching the explanation given.

• Poor school attendance record.

How Can Child Abuse Be Prevented?

Child abuse can be prevented if proper measures are taken. If you or someone you know is suffering from child maltreatment, abuse, or any form of violence, it is necessary to contact the right organization in your area or near your area. Many organizations are working towards eliminating and fighting against child abuse and childhood maltreatment, such as the Administration for Children and Families, the United States Children’s Bureau, the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, the Child Welfare League of America, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, American Public Human Services Association, and many more.

Abused children might feel trapped or they might not know about the different options available to them that they can use for helping themselves or for escaping their current situation. They need someone’s guidance and as adults, it is our responsibility to recognize the signs of childhood abuse, especially during these unprecedented times, and offer assistance to the victims so that they will get a chance to grow into healthy adults.

Additional Information

Some hotlines that might be helpful for the victims of abuse are given below: Crisis Text Line: 24/7 text DS to 741741
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 24/7 at 1-800-656-4673
National Child Abuse Hotline: 24/7 at 1-800-422-4453

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: 24/7 at 1-800-622-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 24/7 at 1-800-799−7233
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255