NCJ Number
57474
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE HAS FAR-REACHING AND SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES FOR SOCIETY AS A WHOLE. THIS CANADIAN PAMPHLET TREATS IN CLEAR, CONCISE LANGUAGE THE MANY ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM.
Abstract
AFTER DEFINING THE TERMS CHILD ABUSE, BATTERED CHILD, AND CHILD ABUSER, THE PAMPHLET DISCUSSES THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN REACTIONS AND ATTITUDES OF PROTECTIVE AND ABUSING PARENTS TOWARD CHILDREN'S INJURIES. PROTECTIVE PARENTS IDENTIFY WITH THE INJURED CHILD'S FEELINGS WHEN HE IS HURT, WHEREAS ABUSING PARENTS ARE CRITICAL OF THE CHILD AND ANGRY WITH HIM FOR BEING INJURED. THE DIFFERENCE IN BEHAVIOR BETWEEN WELL-NURTURED CHILDREN IN A MEDICAL SETTING AND ABUSED CHILDREN IN THE SAME SITUATION IS NOTED. WELL-NURTURED CHILDREN TURN TO PARENTS FOR ASSURANCE AND COMFORT DURING AND AFTER EXAMINATION WHILE THE ABUSED CHILD IS APPREHENSIVE, WITHDRAWN, AND WARY OF PHYSICAL CONTACT. IT IS DIFFICULT TO GAUGE THE EXTENT OF CHILD ABUSE SINCE IT USUALLY OCCURS IN VERY YOUNG CHILDREN OR INFANTS IN THE PRIVACY OF THE HOME. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT CANADA HAS BETWEEN 4,275 TO 4,810 REPORTED CASES EACH YEAR. MANY CASES, HOWEVER, GO UNREPORTED. THE PAMPHLET CONSIDERS TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSERS PREFERABLE TO INTERVENTION OF CRIMINAL LAW, STATING THAT 75% OF ABUSERS CAN BE TREATED SUCCESSFULLY. SUCCESS IN TREATMENT DEPENDS, HOWEVER, ON MANY FAVORABLE FACTORS: THE DEGREE OF EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE OF THE ABUSER, THE AVAILABILITY OF PSYCHIATRIC AND SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, THE SUPPORT OF SPOUSE AND CLOSE RELATIVES, AND THE ABUSER'S WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT HELP. THE PAMPHLET ENDS WITH STATEMENT ON WHAT MANITOBA COUNTY IS DOING ABOUT CHILD ABUSE; THE MECHANICS OF REPORTING CHILD ABUSE INCIDENTS; AND WHAT STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN AFTER THE INCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED. TWO APPENDIXES GIVE THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES AND A REGISTER OF PHYSICALLY ABUSED CHILDREN IN MANITOBA. (MJW)