Signs Of Child Abuse Essay

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines child abuse as "all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power." The World Health Organization distinguishes four types of child maltreatment: physical abuse; sexual abuse; emotional and psychological abuse; and neglect. It is important that people working in education are able to recognize the early signs of possible abuse - physical or emotional. I would like to discuss two forms of abuse including possible causes, signs and symptoms:

- PHYSICAL ABUSE - Children who are physically abused suffer violence such as being hit,

Physical signs that a child may be experiencing physical abuse - Bumps and bruises don’t necessarily mean a child is being physically abused - all children have accidents, trips and falls. There’s isn’t one sign or symptom to look out for that will say a child is definitely being physically abused. But if a child often has injuries, they are in an unusual place, there seems to be a pattern, or the explanation doesn’t match the injury then this should be reported to the setting supervisor and investigated. The examples of physical signs include:

- bruises - e.g. in the shape of a hand or object, bruised scalp, swollen eyes, defensive wounds commonly on the forearm or upper arm.

- scalds and burns - can be from hot liquids, hot objects, flames, chemicals or electricity, also sometimes in the shape of an object which was used, eg. a circular cigarette burn.

- bite marks - usually oval in shape, individual teeth may be visible.

- fractures - multiple fractures or breaks at different stages of