Child Abuse Thesis Statement

The loving years of early childhood offer enormous promise and challenge for the family member. Kids are shaping their early life experiences. Children grow up in an optimal in safety home and the community of interests in bringing up, trustworthy and observant caregivers.

Child Maltreatment continues to be a pressing issue throughout the United States. Over the years many children are victims of some type of maltreatment which in some cases can lead to fatalities. Maltreatment can have a negative impact on children and can leave numerous physical and psychological scars affecting the child’s adjustment not only at the time of abuse, but also into their young

A majority of physicians enter the healthcare industry because they strive to contribute to society by saving human lives. The Hippocratic Oath serves as a reminder for physicians to maintain the desire for improving patient health. Their intentions start off as hopeful and altruistic, but the reality of practice expenses and exam payments settles in to the point that their own financial well-being can no longer be ignored. Physicians are still workers who need to make enough income to support their family, pay off medical school debt, and compensate their colleagues for their efforts. Some physicians begin to consider the social status of their patients before offering certain services.

Rates of Child abuse in the United States are extremely high, even when compared with other developed and undeveloped countries. There are many possible factors that contribute to higher rates of abuse and neglect in the United States. Every year more than 3 million child abuse cases are opened, impacting 6.3 million children in the United States (“Child Abuse Statistics and Facts”). A difficult part of discovering the high rates of abuse cross-culturally is simply the lack of data on abuse in countries all over the world. Without proper data and research it is difficult to know exactly what causes the United States rates to be high.

Child Abuse is defined as “when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child” (“The Issue of Child Abuse”). Sadly, more than 6 million children are being abused each year in the United States (“Child Abuse Statistics and Facts”). Without proper treatment, the effects of their abuse will follow them into their adult lives. Studies have shown that “80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder” (“Child Abuse Statistics and Facts”). Reports have also established that approximately 14% of men and 36% of women currently in a U.S. prison had been victims of child abuse (“Child Abuse Statistics and Facts”). In fact, estimates show that the overall cost of child abuse in the U.S., including health care, child welfare, and prison costs, is approximately $124 billion (“Child Abuse Statistics and Facts”). With the ever-growing number of child abuse cases in the United States, child maltreatment has led to detrimental effects in the lives of the victims and in the U.S. as a whole. Although male and female victims have slightly different responses to abuse, victims have a high chance of developing one or more mental illnesses, are unable to form healthy relationships, and develop a propensity to a life of crime.

In the United States, about 871, 000 children were victims of maltreatment in the year 2004. Many researchers now focus on the risk factors for maltreatment in order to develop interventions that can help reduce and prevent more children from becoming victims of maltreatment. In their study, Begle Dumas and Hanson (2010), conducted an empirical research

It is estimated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human services that one million children are victims of child abuse and neglect in the U.S every year. This number may be an underrepresentation however, as many cases are unreported. Children who experience trauma in early childhood years or adolescence have impacts that follow them throughout adulthood. The common effects include relationship attachment issues, mental disorders, substance abuse, increased

"Nearly five children die every day in America from abuse and neglect," according to Every Child Matters Education Fund (as cited by The National Children's Alliance, 2009). This goes to show that child abuse is a major issue in today’s modern society. In fact, statistics show that there are over 3 million reports of child abuse each year in the United States alone (“National Child Abuse Statistics,” n.d.). While the definition of child abuse and neglect changes from state to state, it is defined by The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) as, at minimum:

Make sure children in all states have an efficient children’s trust or prevention fund to prevent child abuse and neglect before it occurs.

The CDC has states that one in every four children suffer abuse. An estimated 702,000 children were confirmed by child protective services as being victims of abuse and neglect in 2014. (CDC, 2016) Studies have found abused and neglected children to be at least 25% more likely to experience problems such as delinquency, teen pregnancy and low academic achievement. (CDC, 2016) A National Institute of Justice study indicated that being abused or neglected as a child increased the likelihood of arrest as juvenile by 59%. Abuse and neglect also increased the likelihood of adult criminal behavior by 28% and violent crime by 30%. (CDC, 2016)

Child abuse can have lasting negative effects on the child; mentally, physically and emotionally. Child abuse is defined as; the recurrent infliction of physical, or emotional injury on a dependent minor, through the intentional beatings, uncontrolled corporal punishment, persistent ridicule and degradation, or sexual abuse committed by parents or guardian. The victims of child mistreatment experience abuse by their parent and/or guardian and family member. Many factors can contribute to child abuse but it is never justifiable. Punishment can sometimes lead to the abuse of infants and children, (Ciccheti, 2011, 2013). A history of abuse in the family and the parent’s unresolved issues may arise if the parent is harboring the pain from what they experienced. Poverty and low socioeconomic status can also contribute to abuse. Unfortunately, a blind eye is turned against the perpetrators because of denial or fear of what could have to the child or offender. The abuser will threaten or instill fear in the

Evidence shows that abuse on a child, whether physical, sexual, or psychological, can have negative side effects. Not only can abuse cause immediate harm to a child, it could also cause long-term damage to mental health and overall function as an adult. Many adults that have suffered abuse, maltreatment, or neglect in their childhood are at greater risk for perpetuating that same behavior towards their children/step children. Though not all victims will become abusers themselves, many abusers have experienced some sort of mistreatment as a child. Survivors of childhood abuse have a greater chance of developing substance abuse problems, especially drinking, and mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, PTSD, ect). Broadly, there are a number of negative outcomes associated with childhood abuse, with considerable overlap in the types of negative outcomes associated with different types of abuse (Anne N. Banduccia, 2014).

    Child abuse can be describes as “neglect followed by physical and sexual abuse” (2). Abuse affects everyone involved. “Child may be affected when they witness domestic violence, regardless of whether or not they are directly abused” (1). Child abuse has become more largely acknowledged as a common occurrence in homes around the world. Child abuse can inhibit children’s mental and physical development, which can affect the rest of their lives.

Children maltreatment is an exceptionally complicated and disputed public health issue, drawing unceasing attention from many professionals (Garbarino&Crouter, 1978 ; Tishelman, Meyer, Haney&McLead,2010). Child maltreatment is the deficiency of any parental or caretaker act resulting in severe physical or emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation or even death (Thurston, 2006 ; Farah, 2010). This issue has been a significant and growing matter in manifold countries, especially in United States (Paxson&Waldfogel,1999). In 1996, the Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies in United States reported over 3 million cases of child abuse (approximately 50 cases per thousand children), neglect constitutes 58 percent in the report, physical

The total mentioned above estimates the direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are associated with the immediate needs of abused or neglected children. Examples are, hospitalization, chronic health problems, child welfare system, law enforcement, and the judicial system. Indirect costs are those costs associated with the long-term and/or secondary effects of child abuse and neglect (Fromm). Examples are, special education, mental health and health care, juvenile delinquency, lost productivity to society, and adult criminality. Those children who are abused as a child tend to become more susceptible to a wide range of medical, emotional, psychological and behavioral disorders (Fromm).