Childhood Sexual Abuse Case Study

Pediatric abusive head trauma, also known as shaken baby syndrome, is a devastating form of abuse. It occurs when a young child is violently shaken. The repeated shaking back and forth motion causes the child’s brain to bounce within the skull, resulting in bruising and swelling. This intentionally inflicted injury causes trauma to the head and neck region, including cranial, cerebral, and spinal injuries. It occurs in infants and small children because the muscles of the neck region aren’t strong enough to go against the shaking force that occurs. Some make a complete recovery; others are left with debilitating handicaps, and in some cases death occurs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), states that among all the forms

Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) approximately kills 306 babies each year in the United States, and causes severe brain injuries to 1000-3000 infants. The term “Shaken Baby Syndrome” (SBS) is often used by doctors and public to describe Abusive Head Trauma (AHT). Shaken Baby Syndrome was coined at the 1970s, yet it is no longer used at many children’s specialized hospitals such as Sydney children’s hospital. Pediatricians more commonly use terms like Abusive head trauma (AHT) or inflicted traumatic brain injury. Although that Shaken Baby syndrome is highly dangerous and common, many people have not heard of it. Therefore, healthcare professionals must warn parents and caregivers about Shaken Baby Syndrome through showing the

Within the United States, child maltreatment is becoming more and more commonly reported as there is over 3 million reports each year. Due to the constant increase of child maltreatment reports, society has become more aware of the issue, which has led to awareness campaigns. (Payne, 87). Even with societies’ knowledge of such abuse there are still serval child maltreatment cases that are not reported. The children that are victims of maltreatment pertains any sort of harm to the child whether it is by injury, neglect, physical, emotional, or even sexual abuse by someone who holds a major role in the child’s life, a parent or guardian figure (“What is Child Abuse”).

In the cases of inflicted brain trauma, abuse can sometimes be difficult to diagnose because the baby may not have any external marks, other than bruises on chest and extremities from where the infant was held (Lyden, 2011). Researchers say that retinal hemorrhages in infant’s eyes should be considered as signs of abuse until proven otherwise, although they acknowledge that retinal bleeding in infants can be caused by other conditions, those conditions can be ruled out through history, physical exam, and labs (Lyden, 2011).

Child abuse unfortunately is prevalent in society today. It is estimated that there are more than 119,000 cases of child abuse, and 600 fatalities from it each year (Lindberg, Berger, Reynolds, Alwan & Harper, 2014). Although it is not a relatively uncommon occurrence, it can be very difficult to diagnose (Fingarson & Pierce, 2012). Physical abuse can range from broken bones to intracranial bleeds, but one of the most fatal types of abuse is head trauma. Another name commonly used for abusive head trauma is shaken-baby syndrome. Many professionals have moved away from using this term because it does not describe a specific injury, rather it defines a particular mechanism. Studies have shown that shaking is the most often reported mechanism in serious and

Non-accidental trauma (NAT) is a leading cause of childhood traumatic injury and death in the United States. It is estimated that 1,400 children died from maltreatment in the United States in 2002, and abusive head trauma (AHT) accounted for 80% of these deaths (Paul & Adamo, 2014). AHT, also known as shaken baby syndrome or inflicted traumatic brain injury can be caused by direct blows to the head, dropping or throwing a child, or shaking a child. Though the incident may only last for a few seconds, the effects can last a lifetime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States, abusive head trauma (AHT) is most common in children under age 5, with children under one year of age at most risk. Nearly all victims of AHT suffer serious, long term health consequences such as vision

The maltreatment of children occurs at extraordinarily increasing proportions and is becoming a significant health risk to the children it is happening to. One of the major public health concerns should be identifying the risk factors associated with the maltreatment of these children and the just how much resistance these children really have against this abuse. Regardless of how much elasticity the general public in a whole may think these children have against maltreatment, they are still at a major risk of having diminished or compromised psychological and physical health later in life as an adult and are also are at extreme risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Children who were not subject to maltreatment are still

On 4/4/17, Hennepin County Child Protection accepted a report of alleged neglect and failure to ensure the education of her child, Leo Washington, by mother, Kristen Letellier. Per reporter Leo has 9 full unexcused days.

Today, Americans fail to realize the prevalence and severity of child sexual abuse within the United States. Though crimes of adult rape are of equal importance, the sexual victimization of children, ages seventeen and under, accounted for nearly 70% of all reported sexual assault cases in 2015. To further the issue, arrests were made in only 29% of this child sexual abuse cases; this means that for every ten sexual abuse cases involving children, only three of the perpetrators are convicted and jailed. Why are these supposed perpetrators jailed less frequently than the number of reported child sexual abuse cases? The United States Criminal Justice System fails to provide the deserved protection and justice for the victims of child sexual abuse by not giving proper sentences to perpetrators equal to the damage they have inflicted upon the victim and the continued implementation of the statute of limitations in cases of child sexual abuse.

Barnett, D., Manly, J. T., & Cicchetti, D. (1991). Continuing toward an operational definition of psychological maltreatment. Development and Psychopathology, 3(1), 19-29.

The third distinctive argument is that sexual abuse puts teens at risk for teen pregnancy. When someone is sexually assaulted they usually do not report it in fear of what others may say or think of them. As a child, children are unaware of whats right from wrong putting them at a higher risk to be abused. Under-aged children tend to suffer sexual abuse from someone closer to them like a parent, aunt/uncle, sibling, or even a babysitter. Because children do not know that any form of touching someone who does not consent to it is sexual abuse they tend to suffer from abuse longer. Researchers Boyer and Fine (1992) have argued that the trauma of sexual victimization may harm normal developmental process. As these children grow older and

An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today (Darness2Light, 2009a ). This figure continues to grow daily as perpetrators of this crime continue in this destructive path. The definition of child sexual abuse is the force, coercion, or cajoling of children into sexual activities by a dominant adult or adolescent. Sexual abuse of children includes touching (physical) sexually including: fondling; penetration (vaginal or anal using fingers, foreign objects or offenders organs; oral sex, or non-physical contact including: sexual comments; indecent exposures; masturbating in a child’s presence; child prostitution or child pornography (Child Welfare, 2009a).

Spartanburg is home to 284,307 residents with male and female children under the age of eighteen years old is 69,110 ("Current Spartanburg County, South Carolina Population, Demographics and stats in 2014, 2015.") Repeated maltreatment of abuse and neglected children has become problematic issue to the community. With an increase of 21% in indicated child abuse and neglect cases it is no wonder that the Department of Social Services is stepping up their efforts in resolving this issue. Child abuse and neglect not only affects the child victims, it affects their families and society as a whole. Abuse and neglect has immediate and long-term negative impacts, as it may prevent the child from reaching their full potential and could possibly lead

The victim is weak and cannot ambulate independently. The reporter stated that the victim doesnt have paralysis but she's able to move her hands and legs but cannot walk. Amber states her grandmother isnt bathed, her diapers are not changed, she does not eat properly and only eats junk food, her diapers are not changed, she's left at home alone for days at a time, her son yells at her, and he will not allow anyone in the home to visit or help with the victim. Amber stated that her father is an alcoholic, he uses crack, and he takes the money her grandmother receives and spends it in five days on drugs and liquor. Amber states she last witnessed her father use crack a month ago but she did not contact DHS or law enforcement at that time. The

Childhood sexual abuse is a difficult topic to comprehend let alone have open discussion about the issue. I know for me, I cannot fathom someone wanting to hurt a child in this way, but then I wonder what makes a person have the desire to afflict such a traumatic experience on a child. The reading this week did not answer the questions I have, but it did give me a better understanding on how people cope with these experiences.