CHILD ABUSE

Jan 30, 2009 Editorial

Instances of abused children litter the pages of our newspaper with alarming frequency. It does not matter what school of psychology or sociology we believe in.
All agree that it is not clothes but the child that “maketh the man”. Subconsciously, one’s childhood experiences, especially injuries, exert a great influence over one’s thinking as an adult; and if we create damaged children, we will end up with damaged adults who have difficulty in not acting anti-socially. Unpleasant experiences sink into the psyche to later emerge as “disorders”. It is interesting that no universal definition of child abuse exists, as the concept varies from country to country, but it is universally accepted that every child has a right to be considered of equal intrinsic worth, and hence entitled to equal socio-economic, civil and political rights so that he/she may realize his/her potential and share in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
A working definition of child abuse may be any act of omission or commission that endangers or impairs a child’s psychological health and development judged on the basis of a combination of community standards and professional expertise. It may be committed by individuals, individually or collectively, who, by their age, status, knowledge etc., are in positions of differential power that renders a child vulnerable.
Of the types of child abuse, physical abuse consists of any non-accidental form of injury or harm inflicted on a child by a person; this includes beating, burning or wounding.
Physical abuse is common in our society, where corporal punishment such as slapping, etc. is considered the norm. However, corporal punishment that injures the child to the point where medical attention is required is a form of physical abuse outside the limits of normal corrective discipline.
It is sometimes difficult for even doctors to determine whether a child who is brought in to a hospital is the victim of an accident or whether the injury has been caused by physical abuse.
It is therefore imperative for doctors to place importance on this task, and be able to differentiate between accidents and abuse.
Sexual abuse cases – any sexual act with a child performed by an adult or by another child – also appears to abound in Guyana. Females appear to bear the brunt of this type of abuse.
Some suggest that some fifty percent of women in our society may have been abused when they were children.
Just this past week, a casual examination of some court records revealed shocking statistics, all dealing with cases of sexual molestation.
Of fifteen cases that were seen, two of the victims were seven years old; one was six, three of them were eight; and the others between nine and 13. Only one was over twenty and she was described as an idiot.
These cases are heading for the High Court and we await the outcome. Recent reports have exposed the fact that boys are also at risk.
While all sexual abuse of children is heinous, incest —- sexual activity between individuals related by blood —- reportedly cause the greatest and most long-lasting trauma in children.
Ironically, it may be the most common type of sexual abuse of children on account of the opportunities presented because of the sexual predator being “family”.
The behavioural indicators of neglect include withdrawal, or depression, when he/she assumes adult responsibilities, appears consistently hungry or thirsty, steals food, demands physical contact or attention, has poor social relationships, engages in delinquent acts, vandalism, substance abuse, appears fatigued, listless, and lethargic, and is passive.
How many adults around us do not fit this description? The Ministry of Human Services has its work cut out for it – but it is the work of all of us, isn’t it?

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CHILD ABUSE

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