How to Recognize and Prevent Child Abuse

I have worked with programs designed to prevent child abuse and other forms of abuse for all ages and genders for over 20 years and will list some signs and indications of abuse here.

But first, to answer your question quickly, if a child is left outside without supervision or protection for an hour and becomes extremely sunburned, insect-bitten, attacked by animals, or frostbitten and was not of an age to help himself, then it is legally considered child abuse.

In some Scandinavian countries, babies are set out on the front porch in their strollers, dressed in snowsuits, scarves, hats, gloves, socks and boots, and covered with a wool blanket and left for awhile with the parents in the house, in order to breathe cold air in the fall and winter. It is their customer. However, this was done by an immigrant family in Ohio several years ago and the police knocked on heir door and asked them what they thought they were doing. The incident ended up in the newspaper and the family maintained that there was nothing wrong with it, but the police told them not to do it again. I don't know the end result.

In my state, if the child is older than an elementary school age of about 10 or 11, county child services agencies will often not intervene unless the child is being used in human trafficking or photographed in illicit child photos.

I was involved in performing a crackdown on child pornography several years ago among some reputable martial arts instructors that my task force was able to stop. The work continues.  

US Department of Health and Human Services

Child Abuse Statistics for 2005

The Child Victims.

899,000 children in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico were victims of abuse or neglect.

The increase of approximately 20,000 victims in 2005 over 2004, is largely due to the addition of data from Alaska and Puerto for the firs time.

• Children age birth to 3 years had the highest rate of victimization at 16.5 per 1,000 children;
• Over one-half of the victims were 7 years old or younger;
• A little over one-half of the child victims were girls;
• Approximately one-half of the victims were White; one-quarter African-American; and 17.4% Hispanic.

The Types of Abuse Reported

• Over 60 percent (62.8%) of child victims suffered neglect;
• 16.6% of the victims suffered physical abuse;
• About 10% of the victims suffered sexual abuse;
• Less than 10 percent of the victims suffered emotional abuse.

How Many Children Died in 2005 from Abuse?

• 1,460 children died from child abuse (or neglect);
• The national rate of child deaths from abuse was about 2 deaths per 100,000 children;
• Over 40 percent (42.2%) of child deaths were from to neglect; physical abuse also was a major cause of child fatalities;
• Over three-quarters (76.6%) of the children who died due to child abuse and neglect were younger than 4 years old;
• Infant boys under 1 year had the highest rate of abuse fatalities at 1.7 per 100,000 children.

Signs of Neglect

Physical Signs

• Poor hygiene.
• Bed sores and other skin lesions.
• Squinting.
• Missing clothing - no underwear or socks. No coat in winter.
• Untreated injury or illness.
• No immunizations.
• Prolonged exposure to the elements, as in excessive sunburn, insect bites, colds, frostbite.
• Height and weight significantly below average.

Behavioral Signs

• School attendance is spotty.
• Chronic hunger.
• Tired all the time.
• Begging for leftovers.
• Taking on adult responsibilities.
• Reporting that no parent is at home or no food is in the house.

Signs of Physical Abuse

Physical Signs

• Arm or leg joint at odd angles, suggesting dislocation or fracture without treatment.
• Patches of missing hair, suggesting being pulled or dragged by the hair.
• Unexplained bruises or raised welts on scalp, face, throat, upper arms, buttocks, thighs or lower back - or anywhere -- in unusual patterns or shapes that look like belt buckle, electric cord, hand print, etc. on an infant in various stages of healing. A child might disappear from school for a few days and return with bruises.
• Unexplained burns, especially on the palms, soles of the feet, abdomen, buttocks. Hot water immersion burns from the toes to up above the ankles or form the fingers up to the elbow, where the arm or leg has been held down in scalding water. Any burns on buttocks or genitals. burns over the face and upper body where scaling water has been thrown onto the child.
• Rope burns or burns from electrical cord or curtain cord tie-up. Raw skin around the mouth from duct tape.
• Infected burns from lack of treatment.

Behaviors

• Behavioral extremes -- withdrawal, aggression, regression to babyish behaviors, depression, histrionics.
• Inappropriate fear of parent, caretaker, relative, neighbor.
• Antisocial behaviors -- substance abuse, truancy, fear of going home, promiscuity, fire setting, assault, property damage.
• Unbelievable explanation for injuries.
• Lies unusually still while continually scanning the environment.
• Unwarranted shyness and dislike of physical touch.

Signs of Sexual Abuse

Physical Signs

• Ripped or stained underwear.
• Frequent, unexplained sore throats when other family memebrs are fine.
• Yeast and urinary infections.
• Physical complaints - pain, genital irritation, vomiting.
• Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Bruises or bleeding of the genitals or anus.
• Pregnancy.

Behavioral Signs

• Regression to bedwetting, thumb-sucking, fear of the dark or the bathroom.
• Constipation.
• Promiscuity.
• Seductive behaviors.
• Nightmares and insomnia.
• HIding in closets or behind draperies.
• Age-inappropriate knowledge of sex.
• Refusal to undress or wearing several layers of clothing.
• Poor grades in school.
• Trouble walking or sitting.